UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State softball team (21-13, 3-2 Big Ten) employed explosive offense and shutdown defense to pick up two wins over the Purdue Boilermakers (18-18, 1-3 Big Ten) on Saturday afternoon at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field.
The Nittany Lions cruised through the first game, 7-1, before sweeping the Boilermakers in an 8-1 decision in game two. Bailey Parshall and Kylee Lingenfelter both went the distance in each game, earning the wins.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game One
The Nittany Lions came out swinging to start game one. In the team's first at bat, Ally Kurland hammered her 11th homerun of the season over the right center fence, giving Penn State the 2-0 lead after one.
Purdue earned a run back in the top of the second to cut the lead in half. On the mound, Bailey Parshall stopped the Boilermakers offensive drive with a timely strikeout. In the bottom half of the inning, Cassie Lindmark singled to left field to bring Mel Coombs in for an RBI. After two, the Nittany Lions led 3-1.
After a quiet couple of innings for both teams, in which Parshall recorded four strikeouts, the Nittany Lions exploded on offense in the bottom of the sixth. Leading off, Liana Jones homered off the scoreboard on the first pitch she saw bringing Penn State's run total up to four.
A huge hit to center field by Coombs landed her on second base before the Purdue pitcher walked Lindmark. Stepping up to the plate, Kurland smacked a ball over the wall for her second homer of the game and a 7-1 Penn State lead. She's the first Nittany Lion to have two home runs in a game since Kurland did the same thing on April 10, 2021 against Rutgers.
Purdue was unable to record a hit off Parshall in the top of the seventh as the Nittany Lions earned their 20th win and second Big Ten victory of the season.
Game Two
The Boilermakers notched the first run of the second game on an single in the top of the first. Penn State answered in the bottom of the inning, registering a run on a double to right center off the bat of Lexi Black, sending Kurland in for the equalizer.
After a quick second and top of the third, Lindmark homered over the center field fence, giving Penn State the 2-1 lead.
Forcing the Boilermakers to leave two runners on base after the top of the fifth, Penn State took advantage on offense once again. The Nittany Lions used some crafty base running in order to register another run. Lauren Marcotte's single to left field saw her caught out at second, but allowed Maggie Finnegan to get on the board for Penn State.
The Nittany Lion offense broke the game wide open in the bottom of the sixth. Doubling down the left field line, Liana Jones tallied an RBI bringing in pinch runner Lydia Coleman to start off the inning's scoring. Lilia Crouthamel followed up with a single to right center to bring Jones home. Lindmark earned another RBI and Penn State's third run of the inning via a single into right field. Posting the next two runs, Kurland doubled to left sending Maddie Gordon and Finnegan around the bases. The Boilermakers ended the half inning on a pop out to shortstop.
The Penn State defense held off Purdue in the top of the seventh to win the game 8-1 and sweep the doubleheader.
GAME NOTES
- Ally Kurland's two home runs in the first game was the first multi-home run game by a Nittany Lion since Kurland did the same thing against Rutgers on April 10, 2021.
- Kurland also recorded her sixth and seventh multi-RBI games of the season in the doubleheader. Her four RBI in game one is the fourth time this season she's had four or more RBI in a game.
- Cassie Lindmark continues to find ways to get on base, getting hit by a pitch for the 11th time this season.
- Lindmark also recorded her seventh multi-RBI game of the season in game two.
- Bailey Parshall went the distance in game one, completing her 12th complete game of the season.
- Kylee Lingenfelter also went the distance in game two, throwing her fourth complete game of the season and first since February 18 against Cleveland State.
- In game one, the Nittany Lions hit three home runs in a game for the first time since April 26, 2019 in a game against Michigan.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Nittany Lions finish off a three-game series against Purdue on Sunday, April 3 at 1 p.m. ET at the Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field. The game will be streamed on B1G+ ($).