UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State softball battled in a pair of tightly-contested games, but ultimately dropped its Big Ten-opening series against the Iowa Hawkeyes Sunday afternoon on Beard Field at Nittany Lion Softball Park.
Following the pair of losses on Sunday, the Nittany Lions drop to 19-6 overall in the 2023 campaign and hold a 1-2 record in Big Ten Conference action. Iowa climbs to 20-12 overall and 2-1 in the B1G, extending its lead in the all-time series to 46-21. Since 2009, Penn State leads the Hawkeyes 10-8 after factoring in this weekend's action.
PSU finished with eight hits in the first half of the doubleheader and followed with nine more in the second game of the day, marking the third-straight game with eight-or-more hits for the Nittany Lions. Junior designated player Emily Maddock led the way in the batter's box on Sunday for the Blue & White, going a combined 5-for-8 at the dish with a double and three RBI. Senior shortstop Kaitlyn Morrison launched a three-run dinger in the first game of the day, while sophomore right fielder Lydia Coleman booked her first collegiate home run in Sunday's lid-lifter.
Fifth-year right-handed pitcher Kylee Lingenfelter led the way for PSU in the circle on Sunday, striking out a quartet of Hawkeyes while scattering four hits, allowing three runs and one earned run in 4.0 combined innings. Fifth-year southpaw Bailey Parshall saw 5.0 innings of work on Sunday, striking out three batters despite being saddled with both losses. The Nittany Lions also saw relief outings from senior Vanessa Oatley and freshman Paige Maynard, with the duo combining for three strikeouts.
Junior second baseman Melody Coombs started the day on the right foot for PSU, drawing a walk and stealing second before being bumped over to third. Morrison reached on an error to the shortstop, giving Coombs enough time to scratch a 1-0 lead on the board for PSU. The Hawkeyes responded immediately in the top of the second, adding four runs on three hits, including a three-run shot with one out. The Hawkeyes ran up two more in the top of the third to take a 6-1 lead. In the bottom of the fourth, Coleman pinch hit for senior right fielder Maggie Finnegan and belted a first-pitch homer deep to right for her inaugural collegiate bomb. After a one-two-three inning from the Nittany Lion defense, PSU continued to rally, with Maddock singling to right center followed by a thunderous homer from Morrison to left. Iowa went on to score three more runs in the ensuing two innings to take the first game of the day by a 9-4 margin.
Iowa got the scoring started in the second game of the day, with Nia Carter singling up the middle and ultimately advancing to third after a throwing error by the PSU defense. Tory Bennett doubled to left and plated Carter for the early 1-0 lead. Penn State's offense lit up in the bottom half of the inning, as Coombs started the frame off with a triple to left center. Maddock singled to center, tying the game at one-apiece as Coombs crossed home plate. A quick solo shot from Sammy Diaz saw Iowa pull ahead once more, but the Nittany Lions snapped back in the bottom of the second to take a 3-2 lead. With runners on second and third, a single from Maddock managed to bring both fifth-year senior Lilia Crouthamel and freshman pinch runner Jenna Nelson home. Iowa tied things up at three in the top of the fourth and scored the game-winning run in the top of the seventh, finalizing the 4-3 result.
TOP NITTANY LION PERFORMERS (GAME ONE)
Emily Maddock | 3-for-4, 2B, 1R
Kaitlyn Morrison | 2-for-4, HR, 2B, 3RBI, 1R
Lydia Coleman | 1-for-3, HR, RBI, 1R
TOP NITTANY LION PERFORMERS (GAME TWO)
Emily Maddock | 2-for-4, 3RBI
Lexie Black | 2-for-3, 2 2B, 2RBI
Melody Coombs | 1-for-3, 3B, 1R
KEY INNINGS (GAME ONE)
B1 | Coombs walked and stole second, eventually advancing to third after Maddock grounded out the second baseman. Morrison reached on an error by the shortstop, scoring Coombs in the process. PSU 1, IOWA 0
T2 | Doster sent one over the wall in left center, bringing home Loecker and Klosterman who each drew walks. Anna Streff singled and advanced to third on a double from Diaz. Carter scored a sac fly to center that drove Streff in. IOWA 4, PSU 1
T3 | Denali Loecker drew a walk and scored on the ensuing play while Penn State's defense was trying to run down Grace Banes. Brylee Klosterman walked and advanced to third on a single from Tristin Doster. Streff singled to left, scoring Klosterman. IOWA 6, PSU 1
B4 |Pinch hitting for Finnegan, Coleman hit a home run on the first pitch of her at-bat to rightfield. IOWA 6, PSU 2
B5 | Emily Maddock singled through the gap. Morrison sent one over the wall in left for a two-run homer. IOWA 6, PSU 4
T6 | Roman hit a double and Bennett followed with a double of her own that plated Roman. Loecker flew out to right, moving Bennett to third, and a single from Banes brought Bennett home. IOWA 8, PSU 4
T7 | Carter got hit by a pitch and Rylie Moss pinch ran. Roman singled to the pitcher, and a double from Loeker later in the inning brought Moss home. IOWA 9, PSU 4.
KEY INNINGS (GAME TWO)
T1 | Iowa started off hot with back-to-back singles by Carter and Tatianna Roman followed by a double from Bennett that brought Carter home. IOWA 1, PSU 0
B1 | Coombs knocked one off the wall and raced to third. Maddock brought her home on a single to centerfield. PSU 1, IOWA 1
T2 | Diaz hit one over the leftfield wall with two outs. IOWA 2, PSU 1
B2 | Morgan Farrah and Crouthamel each recorded singles, with Nelson called on to run for Farrah. Coombs executed a sac bunt that moved both runners forward, and a Maddock single through the right side scored two for Penn State. PSU 3, IOWA 2
T4 | Diaz reached on a Penn State error and a double from Carter sent her home. PSU 3, IOWA 3
T7 | Carter singled to left center on the first pitch of her at-bat. Bennett singled to center and advanced to second on the throw, scoring Carter in the process. IOWA 4, PSU 3
UP NEXT
Penn State softball hits the road for the first time in Big Ten Conference play next weekend, as the Nittany Lions head to the Minneapolis to take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers in a three-game series. First pitch in the weekend opener at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium is slated for 5 p.m. on Friday, March 31.
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