UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State softball saw a complete game effort from freshman right-handed pitcher Bridget Nemeth, but the Nittany Lions were defeated by the Michigan Wolverines by a 2-0 margin in the weekend series opener Friday night from Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field.
The Blue & White suffered their first defeat in the last three games overall as well as their first defeat against Michigan since a road contest in Ann Arbor during the 2022 season. Penn State dropped to 33-13 overall in the 2024 campaign with an 11-7 ledger in Big Ten Conference competition. The win saw Michigan cement its position as the second-place team in the B1G, climbing to 35-14 overall and 14-3 in league competitions.
At the plate, junior right fielder Maddie Gordon led the way with a 1-for-3 performance while senior third baseman Emily Maddock recorded a hit in her third straight game with a single and 1-for-2 finish. As a pinch hitter, freshman Brooke Klosowicz came into the game in the bottom of the fourth and and loaded the bases with an impressive single in her only offensive opportunity. Elsewhere in the lineup, senior second baseman Kaitlyn Morrison drew a walk and added a stolen base in the contest. The South Park, Pennsylvania, native booked her eighth swiped bag in the 2024 season in addition to her 12th stolen base in her career.
In the circle, Nemeth recorded her 12th complete game performance of the 2024 season in addition to her eighth complete game in Big Ten play. The Glendora, California, native was saddled with the bad-luck loss, just the fourth defeat of her rookie campaign, dropping to 21-4 overall. Nemeth allowed a mere three hits with two earned runs allowed, striking out six Wolverine batters while walking a pair.
Nemeth was practically untouchable to start the game, tossing a pair of no-hit innings while the Nittany Lion offense began to work into an offensive flow. The Blue & White recorded the first hit of the contest in the bottom of the second, with Maddock sending a single up the middle and freshman first baseman Gianna Poletti drawing a walk to put runners on first and second. PSU failed to plate a run in the inning, but Nemeth continued to toss heat through the next two frames. The Nittany Lions had a bases-loaded opportunity in the fourth, but a strikeout ended the offensive threat. Michigan utilized an RBI single in the top of the fifth, and a solo homer in the sixth to close the book on the scoring in the eventual 2-0 Wolverine win.
TOP NITTANY LION PERFORMERS
Maddie Gordon | 1-for-3
Emily Maddock | 1-for-2, HBP
Bridget Nemeth | CG, 7.0 IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 6K, 105TP
KEY INNINGS
T5 | With one out on the scoreboard, Jenissa Conway drew a walk on six pitches and proceeded to steal second after a lineout put two away. Ava Costales drew a walk after a drawn-out at-bat, and Ella McVey smacked her first pitch of the at-bat to right field for an RBI single that plated Conway. MICH 1, PSU 0
T6 | On a 1-1 count with one out on the board, Maddie Erickson sent a solo shot over the fence in left field. MICH 2, PSU 0
UP NEXT
Penn State softball continues its final Big Ten Conference home series on Saturday, April 27, as the Nittany Lions proceed with the second game of the set against the Michigan Wolverines. First pitch from Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field is slated for 1 p.m. (ET), with streaming available to a worldwide audience of authenticated subscribers via B1G+.
SATURDAY PARKING INFORMATION: Due to the Luke Combs Growin' Up and Gettin' Old Tour concert at Beaver Stadium, fans planning to attend Saturday's softball game against Michigan are encouraged to read the following language CAREFULLY. Fans are encouraged to prepay for athletics event parking at a discounted rate of $5.50 through the ParkMobile app, or by clicking here. Prepayment is available through 11:59 p.m. the day before each event. Day of Event parking is in the on-campus parking decks (HUB, East, Eisenhower, Nittany, and West) for $40. Eisenhower Deck parking will be cash only and due upon entry, while parking at the East, HUB, Nittany and West decks will be payable by credit card upon exiting at pay-on-foot machines inside each deck.
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.
