Penn State Softball (4-9) split its four games of the LSU invitational on Friday and Saturday.

Although they were planning to play five total games this weekend, the Nittany Lions finished the tournament with a 2-2 record and won’t play in their final game against Southern Miss because it was canceled due to inclement weather forecasts in Baton Rouge.

Game One

Natalie Lieto got the Nittany Lions off to a hot start against Nicholls, homering on the first plate appearance of the game to give Penn State an early 1-0 lead. Brooke Klosowicz followed that up with a double and was then joined by Macy Chamberlin on the base path, who drew a walk with two outs. Penn State left two runners on after Maddie Gordon flew out to center field to end the top of the first inning.

Claire Sisco cranked a lead-off double on the second pitch of her at-bat and was then advanced to third by a sacrifice bunt. Riley Rutherford knocked a single through the left side of the infield, sending Sisco home to tie the game up at 1-1.

After a quick three and out for the Nittany Lion offense, Nicholls took the lead after Brynne Songy doubled to right center field, plating Carmella Muccilli who drew a lead-off walk to start the bottom of the second inning. With a runner in scoring position, the Penn State defense forced a double play to get out of the inning.

Meagan Ricks reached first with a base hit and was then plated by Klosowicz, who knocked through her second double of the day to tie the game up at 2-2. Shortly after, Haylie Brunson homered, bringing Klosowicz home and extending the lead to 4-2 for the Nittany Lions. Penn State loaded the bases after Chamberlin, Michaela Barbanente, and Kaylie Walters earned walks, but all three were left on base as the inning ended with Jenna Nelson fouling out.

Two runners reached base for the Colonels, but neither advanced before the inning was over.

At the top of the fourth, Lieto doubled to left field and Rinks singled, pushing Lieto to third base. Rinks stole second base before Klosowicz made her way to first after being hit by a pitch. Two Nittany Lions struck out with the bases loaded, but Gordon and Barbanente both drew walks to score Lieto and Rinks. Lydia Coleman brought in Klosowicz with a single, pushing the Nittany Lions lead to 8-2.

Penn State held Nicholls scoreless in the final two innings and tacked on two insurance runs themselves to secure a 10-2 victory.

Game Two

The Nittany Lions took on No. 6 LSU for the second part of their Friday back-to-back.

The Tigers pounced early, taking on four runs in the bottom of the first inning after the first six members of the LSU batting order reached base. Abi Britton clawed her way out of the inning with back-to-back strikeouts, but the hefty damage had already been inflicted.

Penn State left two runners on base as the second inning came to a close. Maddie Volpe replaced Britton as pitcher, tossing a walk to the first batter she faced on the day. The Tigers did not further their lead in the second, but after Penn State went three and out at the plate in the top of the third, LSU broke open the game. McKee, Laneaux, and Hodge all recorded singles and made it around the base path safely for runs, extending the 7-0 lead for LSU.

The Tigers brought in two more runs in the third inning, threatening to end the game early.

Gordon brought a spark to the fourth inning, cranking a double to left center field. Brunson doubled directly after, scoring Gordon and finally putting Penn State on the board.

With the reserves entering the game for LSU, they still found success on offense. Savoy drew a walk and then scored on a base hit from Coffey, making it a 10-1 lead for the Tigers.

In the final inning of the game, Ricks singled up the middle but the next three batters all struck out, stamping Penn State’s first loss of the tournament.

Game Three

Southern Miss brought in a run in the first inning of the game after Hannah Christian singled, stole second base, and reached home on a base hit from Ryanna Valdivia.

Walters reached on an infield single to start the bottom of the third. Nelson pushed Walters to third with an effective bunt and then Lieto plated Walters on a deep sacrifice fly to tie it up at 1-1.

Klosowicz cranked a double on a 3-2 count to get it started for Penn State in the bottom of the fourth. Gordon homered to right center field to add two more runs to the Nittany Lions lead.

The Southern Miss offense continued to sputter, sending Penn State back to the plate in the bottom of the sixth with the chance to add some insurance runs, which is exactly what they did.

Klosowicz recorded her second double of the game for Penn State to start the inning. Gordon reached on a single, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Brunson put the ball in play, reaching first on a throwing error and more importantly, sending Klosowicz home to make it a 4-1 lead for the Nittany Lions.

Game Four

The first two innings went scoreless for both squads, but Penn State drew first blood in the top of the third when Meagan Ricks drove a solo home run over the right-field fence.

Nicholls didn’t trail for long, loading the bases with their first three batters of the third inning and then tying it up thanks to a single from Ally Mooneyham that scored Brynne Songy. Shortly after, Reagan Heflin cleared the bases with a double that brought tacked on three more runs.

Nicholls wasn’t done yet, as a two-out triple from Erin Krause plated two more runs, giving the Colonels a commanding 6-1 lead at the end of the third.

The next run from either squad came at the top of the sixth when Haylie Brunson cranked a lead-off single, prompting the Nittany Lions to have Barbanente pinch run for her. Barbanente eventually made it home after Chamberlin reached base on a fielders-choice, cutting the deficit to 6-2 for Penn State.

At the top of the seventh inning, Maddie Gordon sparked the beginnings of a comeback, smacking a two-run homer over the left field fence, but Penn State fell short in the end, dropping the bid 6-4.

Game Five

Due to an inclement weather forecast in the area, Penn State’s final game of the LSU Invitational against Southern Miss was canceled and will not be rescheduled.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions travel to Salem next weekend for the Hokie Invite. Their first game is against Robert Morris at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 28.