UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- The Penn State softball team (28-19, 10-8 Big Ten) dropped a 10-inning contest against the Wisconsin Badgers (26-12, 11-5 Big Ten) 1-0 at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field Friday evening.
Pitching was the name of the game, as Bailey Parshall and Wisconsin pitcher Maddie Schwartz both pitched gems in the circle. Parshall pitched all ten innings, striking out nine while allowing only five hits. Cassie Lindmark also had a hit in the loss.
How It Happened
Bailey Parshall started the game strong in the circle for the Nittany Lions, putting down the Badgers down 1-2-3 to start the game. Maddie Schwartz started on the mound for Wisconsin and matched Parshall, putting the Nittany Lions down 1-2-3.
The Badgers got the game's first base runner in the top of the second, but Parshall struck out two batters to strand the runner at first. The Nittany Lions then grounded out three straight times to end the second.
Parshall remained hot in the circle, striking out two more batter to bring her total to five in the game through three innings. Penn State got its first base runner of the game in the bottom of the third after an error from the third basemen allowed Lexie Black to get to first. That was all Penn State could produce in the inning as the game was scoreless after three.
Parshall did her thing again in the fourth, putting the Badgers down 1-2-3 again. Schwartz matched Parshall yet again, as the pitcher's duel continued with both teams scoreless after four.
Both pitchers pitched another 1-2-3 inning in the fifth and sixth innings to keep the game scoreless. Wisconsin got a base runner in the top of the seventh, but Cassie Lindmark gunned the runner out trying to steal second to end the inning. Penn State went down in order in the seventh to send it to extras.
Wisconsin got the first hit of extra innings in the top of the ninth with a double down the left field line, but she was left stranded on second.
Lindmark broke up the no hitter in the bottom of the ninth, singling up the middle to give Penn State its first base runner since the third inning. Ally Kurland then walked to put runners on first and second, but Schwartz worked out of trouble to send it to the tenth.
Wisconsin opened the scoring in the top of the tenth with a home run over the centerfield fence. The Nittany Lions couldn't muster a comeback as they fell 1-0 in ten innings.
Game Notes
- Bailey Parshall pitched her 17th complete game of the season in the loss. The ten-inning performance tied the most innings pitched in a game for her this season.
- Parshall also struck out nine batters. That's the fourth most strikeouts she's had in a game this season.
What's Next
The Badgers and Nittany Lions face off in game two of the series tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. with the game streaming on B1G+ ($).