SAN MARCOS, Texas – Facing off against its third quad-one RPI opponent in four days, Penn State softball dropped a 5-2 road decision at Texas State on Thursday night at Bobcat Softball Stadium. Junior left fielder Maddie Gordon led the way for PSU with two of the Nittany Lions' three extra-base hits.
The Blue & White suffered their third consecutive defeat against true-road opponents who participated in NCAA regionals a season ago, moving to 15-4 overall in the 2024 campaign. Penn State has played a trio of contests in a row against programs that sit inside the top 25 of the NCAA's first RPI report of the season, competing with No. 2 Texas and No. 19 Baylor earlier this week in Austin and Waco. PSU dropped its first game against Texas State in the first meeting of the two programs since 1991, with the Nittany Lions moving to 2-1 against the Bobcats all-time. With Thursday's victory, Texas State improves to 18-6 overall.
Penn State's offense turned in a quintet of hits, including three that went for extra bases in Thursday night's highly anticipated matchup. Gordon led the way with a 2-for-3 performance in the batter's box that featured a pair of doubles. The Shenandoah, Virginia, native was also able to plate both of Penn State's runs scored on the night, cementing her place as PSU's leader in runs scored with 16 through 19 games played. Senior shortstop Kaitlyn Morrison added a double en route to a 1-for-3 performance, while freshman first baseman Gianna Poletti tallied the only RBI of the night on an infield single.
Gordon's impressive streak of individual outings continued on Thursday, with the junior moving into a comfortable lead on the PSU roster with six multi-hit games through 19 appearances in 2024. Gordon is currently maintaining the longest active hitting streak on the team, booking a hit in each of the last six contests. She currently sits in second on the squad for the longest reached-base streak in the 2024 season, appearing on first in the last nine games, trailing Garcia's 10-game streak from earlier this year.
Junior right-hander Mady Volpe earned the start for the Blue & White in the circle and went 3.0 innings with five hits and three earned runs allowed. Volpe sat three batters down by way of the strikeout and yielded just one walk while being saddled with the loss, moving her individual record to 5-3 overall. In relief, sophomore north-paw Paige Maynard went the remaining 3.0 innings, surrendering three hits and one earned run with three strikeouts and two walks issued.
Penn State started the night off with the first hit of the contest, as Morrison belted her double to left center to spark some momentum for the Nittany Lion offense. PSU was unable to plate a run in the first, and both offenses went through the first two and a half innings without incident as both squads worked to get up to speed. Texas State was able to strike first in the bottom of the third, plating four total runs with one credited as unearned in the inning. PSU looked to respond in the top of the fourth, as Gordon led the inning off with a double down the left field line. With one out on the board, senior catcher Gaby Garcia reached first on a fielding error by the shortstop, allowing Gordon to complete the remaining 120-foot journey around the basepath. Both teams traded scores over the next inning, ultimately culminating in Thursday's 5-2 final score.
TOP NITTANY LION PERFORMERS
Maddie Gordon | 2-for-3, 2 R, 2 2B
Gianna Poletti | 1-for-3, 1B, RBI
Paige Maynard | 3.0 IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 3K, 53TP
KEY INNINGS
B3 | JJ Smith recorded a leadoff single to right field and Katarina Zarate notched a bunt single to the catcher that advanced Smith to second. After Kamden Hutton entered to pinch run for Smith at second, Megan Kelnar logged a bunt single to juice the bases. A Hannah Earls single to left field plated Hutton, but Zarate was out at third thanks to an outfield assist by Gordon in left. After a popout, Sara Vanderford walked to load the bases once again. Anna Jones tallied a single that sparked defensive chaos for PSU, with the Bobcats plating Kelnar, Earls and Vanderford on the play. TXST 4, PSU 0
T4 | Gordon led the inning off with a double down the left field line, but a Nittany Lion struck out looking to put one away. After Garcia reached first base on a fielding error by the shortstop, Gordon was able to complete the remaining 120-foot journey around the basepath. TXST 4, PSU 1
B4 | Piper Randolph booked a bunt single to third base, and Smith doubled down the left field line to bring her around. TXST 5, PSU 1
T6 | Gordon tallied yet another leadoff double, cranking the ball to right centerfield on a 1-0 count. After a flyout that allowed Gordon to tag up and advance to third, as well as a rundown that put two outs on the scoreboard, Poletti stepped into the box and delivered an infield single that brought Gordon in. TXST 5, PSU 2
UP NEXT
Penn State softball closes out its weeklong trip through the Lone Star State of Texas on Friday, March 8, as the Nittany Lions face off against the Texas State Bobcats in a doubleheader at Bobcat Softball Stadium. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. (ET) in the first game of the evening, followed by a 7:30 p.m. (ET) start in game two. Both contests will stream live to a worldwide audience of authenticated subscribers via ESPN+ and the ESPN app.
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