Penn State softball (8-11) went 3-2 in its five games of the Hokie Invite in Salem, Virginia, this weekend.

In a three-day tournament, the Nittany Lions played five teams, including ranked Virginia Tech. It notched wins over Radford, Robert Morris, and Villanova while falling to James Madison and the Hokies.

How It Happened

Game One

Penn State led off the Hokie Invite against Robert Morris. Meagan Ricks led off the game with a home run to center field, her second of the season. Natalie Lieto was then hit by a pitch and scored on a deep fly ball. The Nittany Lions headed into the bottom of the first leading 2-0.

Lydia Spalding headed to the mound to for Penn State to start Robert Morris’ half of the inning, allowing three singles and a run to score.

After that, it was all Nittany Lions. Robert Morris pitcher Kaitlyn Molitoris quickly recorded two outs, but couldn’t stop the hits from coming after. Penn State scored six runs on five hits, including a two-run home run from Maddie Gordon. The third inning brought in more two runs on Jenna Nelson’s first career home run, and Brooke Klosowicz had a solo-shot in the fourth.

The fourth inning was slightly rocky, with Jillyan Jochims allowing five runs on three hits. Despite this, RMU could not find a way to come back, and allowed 7 runs in the fifth to end the game with a final score of 18-6.

Game Two

In the second game of Friday’s doubleheader, the Nittany Lions took on Radford.

In a much lower-scoring affair than the first game, Penn State relied on yet another home run by Lieto, as well as a two run single and home run by Gordon to beat Radford 5-3.

Starter Abi Britton allowed three runs on eight hits throughout her four and a third innings of work. She exited in the third and then reentered to close the game out in the seventh.

Game Three

In Saturday’s first game, Penn State took on James Madison and suffered its first loss of the Hokie Invite, falling 4-1.

The game remained scoreless until the third inning, when James Madison utility player Payton List launched a two-run home run off of Penn State starter Mady Volpe. Volpe only allowed two runs before the game was handed over to Britton. JMU then scored two more in the sixth off of home runs from Cali Legzdin and Reed Butler.

Penn State led off its half of the seventh with a homer from Lieto, but that wasn’t enough momentum to swing the game in their favor.

Game Four

The second half of Saturday’s doubleheader against Virginia Tech quickly started in favor of the Hokies. After the Nittany Lions failed to score in the top of the first, Michelle Chatfield made them pay with a three-run home run to put Virginia Tech ahead 3-0 going into the second.

After a scoreless second, Haylie Brunson brought Penn State within one with a two-run home run, and Gordon tied the game in the fourth with a home run of her own. That was the only time the Nittany Lions were within reach, as Jordan Lynch put Virginia Tech back on top after a home run.

Virginia Tech starter Emma Lemley pitched a complete game allowing only three runs, and the Hokies won 6-3.

Game Five

After the finale of the Hokie Invite against Villanova was pushed to 1 p.m. because of weather conditions, Penn State came out slow again. Villanova took the lead in the third inning off of a home run from Ava Franz, but Lieto put the Nittany Lions right back into it with a home run of her own in the fourth.

In the fifth inning, Gianna Poletti gave Penn State the lead with a home run. In the seventh, the team took advantage of pitcher Kat Gallant, scoring four runs with two outs. Nelson had a bunt single, and Kaylie Walters’ reached after a throwing error. Nelson then scored on a sacrifice fly, giving the Nittany Lions another run as cushion.

But that was only the beginning. Brunson had a double scoring Walters, and then Klosowicz tripled, earning an RBI and scoring herself on an error.

In the bottom of the seventh, Villanova went down in order. Penn State secured a win in their last game of the Hokie Invite, with a final score of 6-1.

Takeaways

• Without fast starts, Penn State struggled. Without early leads, the Nittany Lions couldn’t close out in their losses.
• The Nittany Lions couldn’t find themsleves on-base too often in their losses, relying on home runs more in defeats.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions make their home debut next weekend as part of the Penn State Softball Invitational. Their first game of the tournament is at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, March 7.