Penn State (21-17, 8-3 Big Ten) took on Bucknell in a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday. The Bison (21-16, 6-3 Patriot League) came into the game looking for a marquee win over the Nittany Lions to put on their resume for the NCAA Tournament selection committee. Penn State wouldn’t let that happen, winning both games 2-1 and 4-1.

How It Happened

The doubleheader kicked off with a pitcher’s duel. With Marlaina Laubach in the circle for the Nittany Lions, Bucknell had little of anything going for them offensively. The same held true for Bucknell’s pitcher Dana Nielsen as the Nittany Lions managed to scrum up just two hits through five innings.

The deadlock was finally broken in the fifth inning after Bucknell began the inning with a double off the wall and later scored off of an infield single.  Bucknell worked toward strengthening its lead with another hit, but was shut down when Erin Pond impressively threw out a runner trying to advance to third base, effectively ending the inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, Penn State finally got on the board and tied the score when Shelby Miller hit a leadoff home run. In the bottom of the seventh with the game tied 1-1, an illegal pitch allowed Reina Furuya to advance to second base. From there, Mollie Sorenson knocked in the game winning run with a walk off single as Penn State won 2-1.

It didn’t take long in the second game for Penn State to get on the board. Shelby Miller hit a double to knock in the first run before Erin Pond knocked in a second to put Penn State up 2-0 after the first. Macy Jones tacked on another run with a solo shot over the wall to start the third inning. The Nittany Lions added another run off of a single from Lexi Knief later in the inning.

Madison Seifert cruised through Bucknell’s lineup for most of the game. The freshman pitcher conceded just two hits through five innings before finally giving up a run, Bucknell’s only, in the sixth. Seifert’s efforts led Penn State past Bucknell 4-1.

Player Of The Series

Mollie Sorenson | Sophomore | Second Base

Sorenson didn’t have the greatest first game, but managed to show up when it counted knocking in the game winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning. She solidified her spot as “Player Of The Series” with a diving stop in the fourth inning where she threw the runner out at first from her back. Yes, lying down on her back, she still made the play to first.

What’s Next

Penn State will continue its home stretch with a Big Ten showdown against Maryland over the weekend. The series will begin Friday at 6 p.m.