The softball team’s last six games were against Big Ten Conference schools, with four of those six coming this past week. Despite a first game win against Michigan State, the team lost their next three games.

The team started their week’s set of games on Wednesday, traveling to Michigan State for a doubleheader. In game one, both teams had double digit hits, but Cassidy Bell’s grand slam in the fourth inning helped Penn State win 8-6.

The softball team wasn’t as successful in their next three games. In the second game of their doubleheader with Michigan State, the women out-hit their competition but gave them six free bases due to walks in a 7-6 loss. According to GoPSUsports, the game ended after five innings due to darkness.

Although the offense was successful against Michigan State, the bats were asleep on Saturday and Sunday at home against Indiana. Saturday’s game was a pitchers duel between Penn State’s Jackie Hill and Indiana’s Morgan Melloh, but Melloh came out on top. In fact, she pitched a one-hitter. Hill’s game was by no means unimpressive though, as she threw seven shutout innings before allowing the games only runs in the eighth. The Nittany Lions failed to score in the bottom half of the eighth inning, losing 3-0.

Sunday’s game was eerily similar to Saturday’s. In their second duel, Hill and Melloh pitched phenomenal games again. Melloh was able to shut down the Nittany Lion offense again, allowing only two hits this time. Hill gave up the game’s lone run in the top of the seventh, and the team lost 1-0.

The team is now 18-16 with a 4-4 record in the Big Ten. Their next four games are at home, starting with a doubleheader today against Kent State. They will then compete in another doubleheader tomorrow against Buffalo.