EAST LANSING, Mich.- Lexie Black's heroics lifted No. 7 Penn State (32-21, 13-10 Big Ten) over No. 10 Indiana (27-22, 10-13 Big Ten) 2-1 in eight innings of the first round of the Big Ten Tournament in East Lansing Wednesday afternoon. Black's walk-off RBI single gave Penn State its first Big Ten tournament win since 2017.
Bailey Parshall earned her 22nd win of the year in the circle. She is now tied for the single season wins record in program history. She also recorded her 600th career strikeout in the win, becoming only the third ever pitcher to accomplish that feat.
Ally Kurland went 1-for-3 in the win with an RBI and her 18th double of the year, which tied the single season program record. Cassie Lindmark went 2-for-4 in the win while Lillia Crouthamel also registered a double.
How It Happened
Cassie Lindmark got the bats going in the game in the bottom of the first. Lindmark ripped a double down the left field line but was left stranded as the game was 0-0 after one.
Indiana threatened in the next half inning, after an error and double to put runners on second and third. Parshall escaped trouble, getting out number three on a high fast ball. Lauren Marcotte singled to start the bottom of the second, but she was left on base.
Bailey Parshall surpassed 600 career strikeouts in the top of third, striking out Brooke Benson to start another 1-2-3 inning for the Nittany Lions. Lilia Crouthamel reached base on a double to start the bottom of the third. Ally Kurland then drove Crouthamel in with a double of her own to make it a 1-0 game.
Indiana started the fourth with back-to-back singles and another single tied the game at 1-1. The Hoosiers started the fifth with two base runners again, but Michelle Leone made a good play at third to turn two. Parshall then struck out her fifth batter of the game for out number three.
Liana Jones singled for Penn State's first base runner in the bottom of the sixth and stole second, but was left stranded. Both teams went down 1-2-3 in the seventh inning to send it to extra innings. The Hoosiers started extras with a base runner after a hit-by-pitch, but that was all Indiana could put together.
Lindmark singled in the bottom half of the eighth to start the offense for Penn State. The pinch runner for Lindmark was then called out for leaving early. Kurland and Jones then walked to put runners on first and second.
It was then Lexie Black who stepped up to the plate and played hero. Black singled through the left side of the infield, scoring the pinch runner Claire Swedberg from second, and giving Penn State the 2-1 win in extra innings.
Game Notes
- The Nittany Lions secured their first win in the Big Ten Tournament since a 5-0 First Round win over Nebraska in the 2017 tournament.
- Bailey Parshall's 22nd win of the season is tied for the most in a single season in program history. She also became only the third Nittany Lion ever to have 600 career strikeouts, joining Missy Beseres and Jackie Hill.
- The Nittany Lions have now hit 74 doubles in 2022, which is the third most by the team in program history.
- Ally Kurland's 18 doubles are time for the most in a single season in program history. She is also now tied for ninth in career doubles with 31.
- Kurland's 44 RBI is tied for the fifth most in a single season in program history.
- Cassie Lindmark's 16th double of the season is the fifth most by a Nittany Lion in a season. It was also her 17th multi-hit game of the season and she has reached base in the last eight games.
On Deck
The Nittany Lions advance to play No. 2 Nebraska tomorrow morning in East Lansing. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. with the game broadcasted on the Big Ten Network and the Fox Sports App.