Penn State softball (33-15, Big Ten 11-9) battled Michigan (37-14, Big Ten 16-3) in a three-game series at Beard Field.

The final home stand of the season was tough for the blue and white after losing all three games to the Wolverines, but the series concluded with senior day celebrations for six Nittany Lions.

Forever our family.
Forever part of who #WeAre pic.twitter.com/Q9XVHmvZMC

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) April 28, 2024

How It Happened

Game One

The weekend started off with a 2-0 loss for the Nittany Lions.

Neither side could get its offense rolling in the first five innings of the game, but Michigan struck first with an RBI single from Ella McVey to earn a 1-0 lead.

The Wolverines tacked on another run in the sixth inning with a solo home run from Maddie Erickson to extend their lead 2-0.

Despite another stellar performance from Penn State pitcher Bridget Nemeth with six strikeouts, the bats couldn’t get rolling for the Nittany Lions and they suffered a 2-0 loss to open the series.

Game Two

In another tough loss, Penn State dropped the second game of the weekend 14-3.

The Nittany Lions shook off the loss from game one and came out with a lead thanks to a two-run home run by Gaby Garcia in the bottom of the first, but the Wolverines answered with three runs in the top of the second to regain the lead.

Michigan’s Erickson bombed another home run in the third inning and another run came across home for the Wolverines to up their lead 5-2. No runs were scored in the fourth inning, but Michigan added to the score again in the fifth to lead 7-2.

Trying to spark the offense, senior Liana Jones blasted a solo home run in the fifth inning to make the score 7-3, but Michigan added seven runs in the top of the sixth.

Liana with the solo blast in the bottom of the fifth!

E5 | MICH 7, PSU 3#WeAre pic.twitter.com/atBUhZXERc

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) April 27, 2024

The Nittany Lions couldn’t score in the latter half of the inning, and Michigan took the mercy-rule win 14-3.

Game Three

The final game of the series featured a 3-2 loss for Penn State.

Like game one, neither side could get the offense going in the first few innings, but that changed when Michigan scored one in the fourth.

Penn State answered with a run of its own after Jones got on base, and Emily Maddock brought her around the bases with a single that rolled to the wall in left field.

EMILY MADDOCK with the hit to bring Liana !

E4 | PSU 1, MICH 1#WeAre pic.twitter.com/ewfAXpfCbW

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) April 28, 2024

The Wolverines scored once again to take back the lead 2-1 and a massive double play by the Penn State infield ended the side in the top of the seventh inning. To keep the Nittany Lions alive, a single from Brooke Klosowicz tied the game 2-2 to send it to extra innings.

The eighth inning was knotted 2-2, but Michigan scored one run in the ninth inning to end the game and Penn State lost the final game of the weekend 3-2.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions will finish the regular season against Rutgers in a three-game series. Game one will start at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 3, in Piscataway, New Jersey.