BOCA RATON, Fla. – Aided by a two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning from junior right fielder Haylie Brunson and a save in the circle by freshman pitcher Bridget Nemeth, Penn State softball completed an unbeaten weekend at the Paradise Classic by dispatching with the Ohio Bobcats in a 4-1 contest Sunday at Joan Joyce Field.
The 2024 Nittany Lion softball team etched its name in the record book against the Bobcats, closing the book on a 5-0 opening weekend in South Florida. The Blue & White also opened the 2023 campaign with a 5-0 start, marking the first time in program history that Penn State has recorded 5-0 starts in consecutive seasons. PSU's only prior unbeaten start through five games before 2023 came in the 1974 campaign. Ohio fell to 1-4 overall at the conclusion of the Paradise Classic, with its only win coming against Michigan State on Friday. PSU solidified its lead in the all-time series against the Bobcats with the win, rising to 5-3 overall against Ohio since the first meeting in 1976.
In the batter's box, Penn State totaled eight hits in the contest highlighted by a 2-for-4 showing from freshman designated player Audree Mendoza on a pair of singles. Brunson finished the day 1-for-4 at the plate, cranking a no-doubter over the right field wall in the top of the seventh inning to book a pair of insurance runs for the Nittany Lions. Senior catcher Gaby Garcia continued her dominant stretch at the dish, closing the weekend with a 1-for-3 outing in the finale with an RBI single and a walk drawn.
Penn State utilized a trio of pitchers to secure the victory Sunday, with junior right-hander Mady Volpe booking the start and tossing 2.0 innings with a trio of strikeouts. Sophomore righty Paige Maynard entered the contest with a one-run deficit and helped steer the Nittany Lions to a 2-1 lead in her 2.0 innings of work, becoming PSU's pitcher of record and securing her first victory of the 2024 campaign. In relief, freshman north paw Bridget Nemeth logged 3.0 innings with a strikeout, booking the save in the process.
Ohio opened the game with a pair of walks in the bottom of the first inning and ultimately opened the scoring with a two-out RBI single to take a 1-0 lead. Penn State's defense and pitching staff settled into the game and did not yield another score for the remainder of the contest. On the offensive side of things, freshman left fielder Michela Barbanente walked to open the top of the third, and a wild play spurred on by a Maddock single resulted in a multi-base error that brought Barbanente around for PSU's opening score of the day. With Maddock at third after Ohio's defensive scramble, an RBI single by Garcia into left field allowed Maddock the requisite time to complete her 60-foot jaunt home.
Led by Maynard and Nemeth's impressive relief effort over the final few innings, the Nittany Lions entered the top of the seventh looking for a bit of insurance to help secure their fifth win in a row. Although the Blue & White opened their final offensive frame with back-to-back flyouts, PSU remained opportunistic and aggressive at the dish. After senior centerfielder Liana Jones was hit by a Bobcat pitch and stole second, Brunson crushed the ball over the scoreboard in right field toward the Boca Raton Airport runway. With four runs on the board, Nemeth returned to the circle to complete her first collegiate save and guide PSU to a 4-1 victory to close out the Paradise Classic.
TOP NITTANY LION PERFORMERS
Audree Mendoza | 2-for-4
Haylie Brunson | 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 1 R
Paige Maynard | 2.0 IP, WIN, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 1BB, 0K
Bridget Nemeth | 3.0 IP, SAVE, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 2BB, 1K
KEY INNINGS
B1 | Lauren Yuhas drew a leadoff walk for the Bobcats, and advanced to second two outs later after Emma Hoffner drew a walk of her own. Shelby Westler entered the batter's box and booked an RBI single to center that brought Yuhas around. OHIO 1, PSU 0
T3 | Barbanente walked to open up the top of the third, and a wild play spurred on by a Maddock single resulted in a multi-base error that brought Barbanente around for PSU's opening score of the day. With Maddock now on third, an RBI single by Garcia deep into left field allowed Maddock the requisite time to complete her 60-foot jaunt home. PSU 2, OHIO 1
T7 | PSU opened the seventh inning with back-to-back flyouts, but the Nittany Lions remained opportunistic in the box. Jones drew a hit by pitch and immediately stole second with Brunson up to bat. Penn State's insurance dreams came true as Brunson crushed the ball over the scoreboard in right field toward the Boca Raton Airport runway. PSU 4, OHIO 1
UP NEXT
Penn State softball heads back to Happy Valley for four days before returning to the Sunshine State for THE Spring Games in Leesburg, Fla. Action begins on Friday, Feb. 16, and concludes on Sunday, Feb. 18, with games scheduled against Kansas, Coastal Carolina, UC Riverside, Southern Illinois and Liberty at the Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex.
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