COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Penn State softball returns to Big Ten Conference competition and hits the road for the first time in two weeks, as the Nittany Lions prepare for a three-game stretch against the Maryland Terrapins beginning on Friday, April 21, and concluding on Sunday, April 23 at the Maryland Softball Stadium.
GAME INFORMATION
Penn State at Maryland | Friday, April 21 | 6 p.m. ET | B1G+ | Live Stats | FREE ADMISSION
Penn State at Maryland | Saturday, April 22 | 2 p.m. ET | B1G+ | Live Stats | FREE ADMISSION
Penn State at Maryland | Sunday, April 23 | Noon ET | B1G+ | Live Stats | FREE ADMISSION
QUICK HITS
Penn State returns to work in Big Ten Conference play fresh off a dominant 9-0 decision against the Bucknell Bison in five innings on Tuesday, April 18. Fifth-year left-handed pitcher Bailey Parshall rewrote the Penn State record book against the Bison, establishing herself as one of the most accomplished individual pitchers in PSU history. The Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, native notched PSU's career records in strikeouts (750) and shutouts (21) against Bucknell.
Penn State's offense provided significant run support against the Bison, driving in nine runs with a trio of multi-run dingers from Lexie Black, Maddie Gordon and Michelle Leone. Black moved into a tie for the team lead in homers with six, while Leone hit her first of the year. The Blue & White rank inside the top three in the Big Ten in earned run average (2nd, 2.30), shutouts (2nd, 11) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (2nd, 3.70). PSU ranks fourth in the B1G and 15th nationally in doubles per game with 1.59.
IT'S QUEEN B'S WORLD
Fifth-year left-handed pitcher Bailey Parshall set the Penn State career strikeout record in the Nittany Lions' 9-0 run-rule victory over the Bucknell Bison on April 18. Parshall entered the game needing one strikeout to tie, and two to reset the record set by 2006 graduate Missy Beseres. Her record of 744 stood until Parshall booked her second punchout in the top of the first inning. After the game, Parshall also assumed the top spot on the program leaderboard for career shutouts with 21, surpassing the previous record of 20 maintained by 2011 graduate Jackie Hill.
LIONS LOVE THE LONG BALL
Penn State has launched a total of 31 home runs in the 2023 season to date, including six dingers in its last three games. Since the start of Big Ten play on March 24, the Nittany Lions have hit 17 home runs while averaging exactly one homer per game against Big Ten challengers. PSU's series against Northwestern saw PSU crank seven dingers, including multiple homers from Lexie Black and Melody Coombs. Liana Jones and Lexie Black are both currently tied for the team lead in homers blasted with six, while Kaitlyn Morrison follows closely behind with five.
SCOUTING THE TERRAPINS
Head coach Mark Montgomery leads the Terrapins into the weekend series with PSU boasting a 30-13 overall record coupled with a 6-8 ledger against Big Ten Conference opponents. Maryland's most recent league series saw the Terrapins take two-of-three games off the Iowa Hawkeyes on the road in Iowa City. In the batter's box, the Terrapins are led by a quartet of batters who are hitting over .300, highlighted by team leader Jaeda McFarland, who averages .364 in 2023. Trinity Schlotterbeck leads the team with a 2.33 ERA while Courtney Wyche paces the squad in innings pitched with 131.0.
SERIES HISTORY
The Nittany Lions and Terrapins prepare to face off against each other in a weekend series for the third-straight year, with Penn State dropping two-of-three games in last year's contests. PSU and Maryland will face off for the 32nd time on Friday night, with the Blue & White maintaining an 18-13 edge in the all-time series. Since Maryland joined the Big Ten, the Terps lead the series by a 12-11 margin. The most recent meeting of the programs in College Park saw Penn State take one of four off the Terrapins in the COVID-maligned 2021 campaign.
FOLLOW THE NITTANY LIONS
Visit GoPSUSports.com for more information on Penn State softball. Fans can keep up to date with the Nittany Lion softball team on Facebook at /pennstatesoftball as well as Twitter and Instagram @PennStateSB.
