Penn State softball (14-16, 2-5 Big Ten) dropped its series against Indiana (22-8, 2-3 Big Ten) this weekend.

The Nittany Lions took the first game in dramatic fashion, but couldn’t secure either game from the Saturday double-header, further falling below .500 in overall and conference record.

Game One

Penn State’s offense found its groove early on in the ballgame, as Brooke Klosowicz knocked a double down the left field line. Shortly after, Maddie Gordon smashed a no-doubt home run to put Penn State up 2-0 in the first.

The Nittany Lions picked up where they left off, as Meagan Ricks started a two-out rally with a bunt that put her on first. That was followed by a single from Haylie Brunson and a walk from Klosowicz to load the bases.

Gordon stepped up to the plate, and six pitches later had her second home run of the game and fourth career grand slam. Penn State led 7-0.

Trailing by seven runs in the bottom of the second inning, Indiana had a newfound sense of urgency.

Cassidy Kettleman and Madalyn Strader drew back-to-back walks to put runners on first and second. Melina Wilkison brought them both in with a homerun shot to left-center field, cutting down Penn State’s lead to 7-3.

After Penn State went quiet at the plate in the third, Indiana rode its momentum from its previous offensive effort, scoring another three runs, two of which came from another pair of consecutive walks with bases loaded, the other coming from a sacrifice fly before the inning ended.

Indiana continued to capitalize on crucial mistakes from the Nittany Lions, as Brianna Copeland drew a lead-off walk, made her way to third, and then stole home when a runner on first baited a throw from the catcher to second base. The eighth and ninth unanswered runs came in for Indiana when an outfield error allowed Strader and Kettleman to score. Indiana led 9-7.

Penn State finally regained its footing, as Seidel cranked a leadoff double. Coleman entered the game as a pinch hitter and made it to first after a chaotic error from the Hoosier defense, which scored Seidel in the process. Michela Barbanante and Kaylie Walters notched back-to-back singles, loading the bases for Ricks. Coleman scored after a fielder’s choice put Ricks out at first. Then, a throwing error from Indiana’s catcher allowed Barbanente to make it home, giving Penn State a 10-9 lead. Klosowicz wasn’t satisfied, as she plated Walters with an RBI single and made it an 11-9 ballgame.

The dramatic back-and-forth nature of the game continued, as the Hoosiers tied it up at 11-11 after an inside-the-park homerun from Coleman scored two.

At the top of the seventh inning, Walters reached base on a double for Penn State and was brought home shortly after by an RBI single from Ricks. Brunson doubled to score Ricks and then reached third on a wild pitch. Natalie Lieto added one more insurance run for the Nittany Lions on their final trip to the plate, scoring Brunson with a single to right field to make it 14-11.

The Hoosiers drew back-to-back walks to start the final inning, and a double that scored two from the red-hot Copeland made it interesting, but Penn State secured the third and final out to win 14-13.

Game Two

Penn State drew first blood after Ricks drew a leadoff walk and was later plated by Gordon to go up 1-0.

Indiana scored its first run of the ballgame in a similar fashion as the Nittany Lions, with Wilkison drawing a walk and then being plated by a double from Minnick. Aly VanBrandt drew a two-out walk, joining Copeland on base. Sydni Burko slapped a base hit to right field, scoring two more runs to give Indiana a 3-1 lead.

At the bottom of the third, Indiana tacked on another run, thanks to a few well-placed bunts and strong base running from Copeland.

A double play from the Penn State defense to start the fourth put Indiana on their last out of the inning, but Minnick didn’t blink, smacking a double to left field. Avery Parker made it a 5-1 game after her single sent Minnick home.

It was a chaotic start to the fifth inning for Penn State, as Walters swung and missed at her third strike, but the catcher fumbled the ball and then missed the throw to first, allowing Walters to reach third base. Another double from Brunson scored Walters, followed by a single from Klosowicz that put runners on the corners. The errors continued for the Hoosiers, which allowed Burnson and Klosowicz to reach home, as Penn State trailed 5-4.

Van Brandt cranked a leadoff double with the first pitch she saw and would make it around the base path after a wild pitch from Penn State.

Indiana added another insurance run at the bottom of the sixth when Copeland reached on a single and then moved to second on another wild pitch. Mitchell scored Copeland with a single of her own to make it a 7-4 ballgame.

Klosowicz blasted a solo shot to start the seventh inning, but the Nittany Lions couldn’t generate any more runs, falling short of a comeback, 7-5.

Game Three

Some early offense gave Penn State a 4-1 lead after its first two trips to the plate, but the Hoosiers answered back in the bottom of the second with two home runs from Van Brandt and Copeland to give Indiana a 5-4 lead.

The Hoosiers began to pour it on after Penn State’s bats went silent. Alex Cooper hit a two-run blast, and Minnick did the same thing just moments later adding to the Hoosiers’ 9-4 lead.

Indiana ended the game in the bottom of the fourth inning after Mitchell, Van Brandt, and Kettleman loaded the bases, allowing Copeland to score all three baserunners with a double. The bases were loaded again, this time for Wilkison, who cleared them with a base hit to left field. Mitchell then plated Wilkison, making it a 17-4 slaughter.

Takeaways

• Klosowicz extended her reached-base streak to 27 games. Her consistency and ability to make it around the basepath have been something of major value for Penn State’s offense.
• Walks were a persistent issue for the Penn State pitching rotation all weekend long. They amassed 25 free bases over the three-game series. Gifting free baserunners to an explosive Indiana offense is a recipe for disaster, and that proved to be true this weekend.
• Gordon was an offensive engine for Penn State, tallying eight RBIs on six hits in the series against Indiana.
• The Nittany Lions showed flashes of greatness at the plate against Indiana, batting a whopping .474 in game one, but they haven’t been able to consistently harness that success throughout the season.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions will head down south to Atlanta for a couple of non-conference matchups, starting with Oklahoma State at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 29.