HAMPTON, Va. - Penn State Softball won both games against Delaware (11-1) and Norfolk State (8-1) on Saturday, highlighted by a 17-strikeout performance for Kylee Lingenfelter in game two against Norfolk State.
Lingenfelter, who broke the program record for strikeouts in one performance with 17, pitched seven innings allowing one earned run, three hits, and two walks against the Spartans.
Melody Coombs and Kaitlyn Morrison each had three hits in their four-plate appearance during game one. Coombs drove in a run and scored one herself while Morrison scored two runs and drove in three. In the second game, Lydia Coleman dazzled with two hits, two RBIs and scored a run.
Game 1: Penn State 11, Delaware 1 (6)
The Nittany Lions went ahead early against the Blue Hens when Morrison singled home Jenna Nelson, and then scored herself when Coombs singled later in the inning.
The Blue Hens struggled to find offense against Penn State ace Bailey Parshall, who would end the game with allowing three hits, one walk, an unearned run, while adding six strikeouts in six innings of work.
Following a Delaware run in the bottom of the fourth, Penn State responded in the top of the fifth inning to extend their lead over the Blue Hens. Maggie Finnegan and Lexie Black hit back-to-back triples and Morrison doubled to bring Black home from third.
Penn State exploded in the sixth for seven runs. Coombs started the inning with her third hit of the day, then Coleman walked putting two on. Black walked to load the bases and Rex walked to score Coombs. Morrison singled after three-straight walks scoring two. Lauren Marcotte's single scored another and Michelle Leone doubled to bring Morrison around to score. Lilia Crouthamel ended finished the scoring when her fly ball got caught in the wind, stumping the centerfielder and brought both Marcotte and Leone around to score. Crouthamel was thrown out at second attempting to extend the play.
Parshall retired the Blue Hens in order in the bottom of the sixth and the Nittany Lions mercy ruled Delaware, 11-1.
Game 2: Penn State 8, Norfolk 1
Penn State began game two with Lingenfelter in the circle, who surrendered an early run. Gabby Vaughan doubled to bring Imani Moore, who singled to begin the inning, to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead.
The Nittany Lions responded in the top of third with a double from Coleman, driving in Nelson who was pinch running. The Nittany Lions didn't stop there, as Finnegan bounced one to the shortstop that she beat out and Crouthamel scored. Rex then blasted a ball back up the middle scoring Finnegan and Coleman who advanced to third. Marcotte capped off a six-run third inning with a sac-fly that scored Rex.
In the fourth inning, Coleman knocked Coombs home who made her way to third extending the Nittany Lions margin to six.
Morgan Farrah finished off the game when she singled to left field bringing home Gordon and extending the Nittany Lions margin to seven.
Lingenfelter, who after a rough first inning settled in for the Nittany Lions, struck out two bringing her game total to 17.
Next Up
Penn State will face Hampton tomorrow at 10 a.m. to finish out the Pirate-Spartan Classic.
--Nittany Lions--