UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Despite jumping out to an early two-run lead through the first inning of play, Penn State softball dropped a 14-3, six-inning decision to the Michigan Wolverines in the second game of a three-game series Saturday afternoon at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field.
The defeat saw Penn State drop its first conference series of the 2024 campaign in six attempts, with the Nittany Lions ultimately moving to 33-14 overall and 11-8 against Big Ten Conference competitors this year. The Nittany Lions dropped their second consecutive game against Michigan, with the Wolverines answering back against PSU's two-game win streak from the 2022 and 2023 meetings. The victory saw Michigan improve to 36-14 overall and 15-3 in the Big Ten this year.
Penn State's offense amassed five hits on the day, including a pair of home runs en route to their three runs scored Saturday afternoon. At the plate, senior catcher Gaby Garcia shined in her second three-hit game of the 2024 season. The Southlake, Texas, native finished the afternoon batting 3-for-3 with a run scored and pair of RBI thanks to a two-run shot in the bottom of the first inning. Garcia went on to add two more singles on her way to her 13th multi-hit game of her senior season. Senior center fielder Liana Jones contributed to PSU's offensive output with a 1-for-2 outing and a pair of runs scored, hitting a home run in addition to drawing a hit by pitch.
In the circle, the Nittany Lions called on all four members of their pitching staff in Saturday afternoon's contest against the Wolverines. PSU granted the start to junior right-hander Mady Volpe, who pitched the majority of innings against Michigan on the day, finishing with 3.1 innings pitched with five earned runs. Volpe was saddled with the loss, moving to 8-6 overall in her junior season. In relief, junior lefty Lydia Spalding went 0.2 innings and didn't surrender a score, yielding a single hit on the day. Freshman Bridget Nemeth went 2.0 innings and yielded a pair of scores, while sophomore Paige Maynard recorded her 20th appearance of the season in Saturday's outing.
PSU started the day on the right foot in the opening inning of competition, with Volpe working a one-two-three frame to give the Nittany Lions some momentum heading into the home half. Following a pair of groundouts to open the bottom of the first, Jones drew a hit by pitch and Garcia worked a 2-2 count, pelting the fifth pitch of her plate appearance over the wall in left center for a two-run shot. Michigan responded to the fast Nittany Lion start with a trio of runs in the second, as well as a pair of runs in the third and fifth innings to take a 7-2 lead. With one away in the bottom of the fifth, Jones stepped up to the plate and looked to seize some momentum for PSU with a solo shot over the fence in left center field, but Michigan replied in the top of the sixth and managed to close out Saturday's game in six innings by a 14-3 tally.
TOP NITTANY LION PERFORMERS
Gaby Garcia | 3-for-3, R, 2 RBI, HR
Liana Jones | 1-for-2, 2 R, RBI, HR, HBP
Bridget Nemeth | 2.0 IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 1K, 22TP
KEY INNINGS
B1 | Following a pair of Nittany Lion groundouts to open the home half of the first inning, Jones drew a hit by pitch and Garcia worked a 2-2 count, pelting the fifth pitch of her plate appearance over the wall in left center for a two-run shot. PSU 2, MICH 0
T2 | Keke Tholl singled to left field, and Lexi Dellamonica came in to pinch run for her at first base. Ella Stephenson proceeded to smack a double to right that moved Dellamonica to third, and a Jenissa Conway walk loaded the bases for Michigan. A fielder's choice kept the bases loaded but saw Dellamonica forced out at home to put one away. Ava Costales lifted a sac fly to right that plated Stephenson and moved Conway to third. Ella McVey closed the scoring in the inning out with a single down the left field line, advancing to third on a fielding error by PSU's left fielder that plated Conway and Lilly Vallimont. MICH 3, PSU 2
T3 | Maddie Erickson hit a homer to left field with one out on the board, and Tholl kept the inning alive with a hit by pitch. Stephenson walked, and after a pitching change, Conway singled through the right side to load the bases. A Vallimont sac fly closed out Michigan's two-run frame. MICH 5, PSU 2
T5 | Tholl led the inning off with a single to left fielder but was out at second on a fielder's choice that saw Stephenson reach first. On a 1-2 count, Conway hit a two-run homer over the wall in center. MICH 7, PSU 2
B5 | With one away in the bottom of the fifth, Jones stepped up to the plate and looked to seize some momentum for PSU with a solo shot over the fence in left center field. MICH 7, PSU 3
T6 | Ellie Sieler led the inning off with a single, advancing to second after Indiana Langford drew a walk. An Erickson single to right loaded the bases with no outs, and Tholl's single to center kept the bases juiced while Sieler scored. Madi Ramey came in to pinch run for Erickson at second, and Stephenson cranked a two-RBI double to right that plated Langford and Ramey while Tholl cruised to third. After a PSU pitching change, Conway reached on a fielding error that plated Tholl and saw Stephenson reach third. From there, Vallimont hit a three-run homer to left center that closed the book on Saturday's scoring. MICH 14, PSU 3
UP NEXT
Penn State softball prepares for its final home game of the 2024 season on Sunday, April 28, as the Nittany Lions host the Michigan Wolverines for the program's Senior Day presented by the Penn State Alumni Association. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to celebrate PSU's 2024 graduating class, with festivities scheduled to begin around 12:40 p.m. (ET) at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field. Sunday's stream, provided to a worldwide audience of authenticated subscribers via B1G+, is slated to begin early for fans unable to attend the Senior Day ceremony in person.
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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.
