Fresh off of a huge win over No. 22 Michigan, Penn State softball is riding high these days. With the Nittany Lions now boasting a 23-15 overall record, head coach Clarisa Crowell is ecstatic to help her team find such improved success in just her second season at the program’s helm.

The Nittany Lions largely rebuilt in 2021 and struggled mightily while producing a 7-34 overall record. This season, though, the team has brought positivity and — more importantly — wins to Beard Field. No victory expresses that progress more than Sunday’s win over the ranked Wolverines.

“It was huge. It’s the biggest win we’ve had all season, and it’s the biggest win our program has had in a really long time,” Crowell said this week. “To find a way to win that one was huge.”

Sunday’s win over Michigan was Penn State’s first since 2006. It also doubled as Penn State’s first win over a ranked team on the road since 2017. Wolverines pitcher Alex Storako racked up a staggering 17 strikeouts against the Nittany Lions, but Penn State managed to put its nose down and grind to a major win.

Pump it up

For the first time since 2006, the Nittany Lions take down the Wolverines. #WeAre pic.twitter.com/exsQ46kxDP

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) April 10, 2022

“It does not have to look pretty,” Crowell said. “We just need to figure out a way to win. If you watched the game, that’s pretty much how it went down.”

While the team was able to come together to secure the win, Crowell also gave a ton of credit to catchers Cassie Lindmark and Ally Kurland for helping the team find success this weekend. Together, the two accounted for all three runs in the ranked win, one being a two-run shot from Kurland and the other a game-winning dinger from Lindmark.

Another look at @CassieLindmark_'s game winning dinger in Ann Arbor on Sunday. #WeAre pic.twitter.com/fJL4CYS5Q0

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) April 10, 2022

Since Lindmark’s transfer from Kentucky this season, she has six home runs and the highest batting average on the team at .416. Kurland is lighting up the stat sheet in her own way with 14 home runs, leading the Nittany Lions in 2022. Sunday’s win was her eighth multi-RBI game of the season already.

“To beat them there was awesome because that’s an electric environment,” Crowell said. “There’s a lot of people wearing the maize and blue in those stands, but when Cassie hit that home run, they were silent pretty quickly.”

Absolute laser from @ally23kurland! Her 14th of the season has Penn State up 2-1 in the third. #WeAre pic.twitter.com/KIF4hP45z7

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) April 10, 2022

Looking ahead, Penn State’s next matchup comes against Big Ten foe Indiana, which boasts a 25-19 record this season. While the Hoosiers may not be ranked, the Nittany Lions are still taking their practice and play very seriously heading into Friday’s clash.

“Indiana is gonna be a great team,” Crowell said. “We are going to have to put together a good game plan to shut down their offense.”

Penn State hosts Indiana starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 15. You can catch the action on BTN+.