Penn State softball (24-13, 5-9 Big Ten) defeated Bucknell (10-26, 2-10 Patriot League) 9-0 during Tuesday night’s non-conference matchup at Beard Field.

Bailey Parshall was on the mound with a chance to make history, only needing one strikeout to tie and two to take sole possession of the most strikeouts in Penn State softball history. She accomplished this feat by notching her 746th career strikeout in the first inning. On top of that, Lexie Black, Michelle Leone, and Maddie Gordon brought the power, each smacking a home run.

How It Happened

It didn’t take long for Bailey Parshall to put her name in the history books. Two strikeouts in the top of the first inning gave her the all-time career strikeouts record with 746.

In the Nittany Lions’ half of the first, they put an early couple of runs up on the board. A walk by Mel Coombs led the inning, and she advanced to third thanks to a stolen base and error by the catcher. Another error by Bucknell, this time off the bat of Maddie Gordon, scored Coombs to make it 1-0. The Bison’s starter Savannah Jones walked the next three batters force in another run for Penn State.

Bucknell threatened to shorten the lead in the top of the third. Bella Radican hit a single down the first base line, but Parshall was able to rally back to end the inning unscathed. In the bottom half of the third, Penn State added to its lead.

Back-to-back singles by Kaitlyn Morrison and Gordon put two runners on to start the inning. Lexie Black stepped up and smoked a ball to straightaway center field for a three-run home run.

The Nittany Lions weren’t done, however. Maggie Finnegan continued the inning with a single to the right side. Three batters later, she would cross home thanks to another home run, this time a two-run bomb off to left-center off the bat of Michelle Leone.

After another successful inning for Parshall, Penn State came up to bat in the fourth. Morrison smacked a double to left for her second hit of the game. Gordon stepped up and joined the home run fun with an opposite-field two-run shot of her own to make it 9-0.

Parshall remained in the game for the fifth and continued her dominant day. She would strike out the side to end the game thanks to a five-run rule, giving the Nittany Lions the 9-0 win.

Takeaways:

• Bailey Parshall made history tonight as she became Penn State softball’s all-time strikeout leader. On top of that, she had an outstanding game, striking out six in a five-inning complete-game shutout.
• It was a home run parade for the Nittany Lions. Bombs by Lexie Black, Michelle Leone, and Maddie Gordon provided more than enough insurance for Penn State in the blowout win.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions will travel to College Park to take on the Maryland Terrapins in a three-game series. The first game will take place at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 21, and can be streamed on BTN+.