PISCATAWAY, N.J.- A four-run sixth inning, mixed with a gem from Bailey Parshall, lifted the Penn State softball team (26-16, 8-5 Big Ten) over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (23-25, 1-14) 4-3 at the Rutgers Softball Complex in Piscataway, N.J. on Friday afternoon.
Bailey Parshall threw her 15th complete game in the win, notching her 17th win of the season. The senior pitcher also tied her season high in strikeouts, punching out 12 Rutgers batters in the win. Jaden Vickers took the loss for Rutgers.
Lauren Marcotte had a monster day at the plate, going 3-4 on the day. Cassie Lindmark and Lexie Black both reached base in all four at bats they had in the game. Ally Kurland's two-RBI single in the top of the sixth proved to be the decisive hit.
How It Happened
Cassie Lindmark started the game for the Nittany Lions getting her first hit of the weekend after a single through the right side of the infield. A Katie Wingert home run in the bottom half of the inning gave Rutgers the early 3-0 lead.
The Nittany Lions responded with two base runners of their own in the top of the second after Liana Jones walked and Lexie Black was hit with a pitch, but Penn State couldn't advance them. Parshall came into the circle and retired three straight Scarlet Knights to end the inning.
Lindmark reached base for the second straight at bat, getting hit by a pitch for the 15th time in 2022 in the top of third. The Nittany Lion defense pulled off a crafty double play in the bottom of the inning to get the first two outs. Rutgers then got base runners on second and third, but a big strikeout from Parshall kept the runners stranded.
Lauren Marcotte opened the top of the fourth with a single to center field, followed by a walk for Lexie Black, but Penn State left both stranded. Parshall then retired Rutgers 1-2-3 to end the fourth.
Lindmark was hit by a pitch yet again, giving Penn State a base runner to start the fifth. Kaitlyn Morrison then drove a ball into left field, but the Rutgers outfielder made a great catch to rob a home run to end the half inning. Parshall put Rutgers down 1-2-3 again in the bottom of the inning, notching her seventh strikeout of the day.
Marcotte got her second hit of the day, singling to left to start the sixth. Jones then walked for her second time on the afternoon, prompting a pitching change for the Scarlet Knights. Black was then hit by a pitch for the second time in the game to load the bases.
Lilia Crouthamel then stepped up to the plate and walked, driving in Marcotte for the Nittany Lions' first run in the game. Lindmark was then hit with a pitch for the third time in the game, bringing Jones across to make it 3-2.
It was then Ally Kurland, who hit a single through the right side of the infield to bring in two runs and give Penn State the 4-3 lead. Ashley Hitchcock then reentered the game for Rutgers, getting the final two outs of the inning.
Crouthamel made a great diving catch in center field to take away a base hit from Rutgers in the bottom of the sixth. Parshall struck out the other two Scarlet Knights to get out of the inning. It was her eighth and ninth strikeouts of the game.
Marcotte got her third hit of the game in the form of another single to start the seventh. Black reached for the fourth time in the game after her second walk, but that's all Penn State could muster.
Parshall kept doing her thing in the circle, striking out the final three Scarlet Knights she faced, securing the 4-3 in Piscataway for the Nittany Lions.
Game Notes
- Parshall tied her season-high in strikeouts with 12 in the game. Her other 12 strikeout performances both came against Pitt, once on February 13 then again on March 16.
- It was Parshall's first double-digit strikeout game since the win against Pitt on March 16.
- Lindmark extended her hitting streak to six games. She was also hit by a pitch three times in the game, bringing her season total to 17.
- Marcotte registered her seventh multi-hit game of the season. It was the second time in 2022 she had three hits in a game.
- Kurland extended her hitting streak to five games. She also registered her tenth multi-RBI game of the season.
On Deck
The Nittany Lions and Scarlet Knights go for round two tomorrow in Piscataway. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. with the game streaming on B1G+ ($).