Penn State softball (14-18, 2-5 Big Ten) dropped a double header against Oklahoma State (21-9) and Georgia Tech (21-14) on Saturday in Atlanta, Georgia.

During its trip down South, Penn State scored just two runs across both of its losses to Oklahoma State and Georgia Tech.

Game One

Oklahoma State drew first blood in the bottom of the second inning when Megan Delgadillo, who reached base earlier on a walk, was plated by a base hit from Megan Bloodworth to give the Cowgirls a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the third, Tia Warsop and Rosie Davis hit back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second for the Yellow Jackets. Karli Goodwin flew out to right field, but Warsop still scored after the Penn State defense committed a crucial error trying to tag Davis in a rundown. With a 2-0 lead, Delgadillo reached on a single, and Wark followed that up with another base hit that plated Davis. With two outs, a fielding error from the Nittany Lions allowed Delgadillo to make it around the bases for the second time, making it a 4-0 ball game.

Haylie Brunson got Penn State on the board at the top of the fifth with a solo home run to right center field. Shortly after, Meagan Ricks cranked a home run of her own to cut the deficit in half for the Nittany Lions.

Oklahoma State extended its lead in the fifth despite a solid defensive effort from Penn State that included a diving catch from Natalie Lieto and a perfectly executed relay throw to stop a runner from making it home. An RBI triple down the right field line by pinch hitter Claire Timm put the Cowgirls up 5-2.

At the bottom of the sixth, Oklahoma State put the nail in the coffin after loading the bases for Godwin, who delivered a double to left field that scored Tallen Edwards and Warsop. Delgadillo brought in another run to make it an 8-2 ball game. Timm forced a run-rule after her base hit plated two more runs for Oklahoma State, ending it 10-2.

Game Two

After a silent first inning for both squads, Georgia Tech broke open the game in its second trip to the plate.

Addison Leschber reached base with a leadoff single and then moved to second after a wild pitch. A walk from Reese Hunter put another runner on, and then a sacrifice bunt by Emma Simon moved both runners into scoring position. Ella Edgmon drew four balls, loading the bases for Paige Vukadinovich, who scored two with a timely double to left field. Alyssa Willer extended the 4-0 lead with an RBI double that scored Edgmon and Vukadinovich.

Gracyn Tucker continued the dominant second inning for the Yellowjackets, blasting a two-run homer to left center field. With two outs, Grace Connelly cranked out a base hit and was shortly after brought around the bases by a two-run home run from Leschber, who had two trips to the plate within the same inning. Georgia Tech led 8-0.

Tucker reached on a walk to start the bottom of the fourth. Jayden Gailey smacked the Yellow Jacket’s third home run of the game over the right center field fence to make it a 10-0 game.

Penn State’s offense remained dry, going three up, three down in their final trip to the plate before the game ended in the fifth inning.

Takeaways

• Penn State was outscored 2-20 in its two losses, with the only two runs coming from solo home runs in the same inning. Additionally, both ball games ended prematurely due to the run-rule. It’s hard to win ball games when you can’t get on base.
• The inconsistencies at the plate continued for the Nittany Lions on Saturday, mustering just two hits on 16 at-bats against Georgia Tech.
• On the other side of the ball, the Penn State pitching rotation gave up 21 hits in the double header.

What’s Next?

Penn State returns to Happy Valley to begin a nine-game homestand, starting with another non-conference matchup against Bucknell at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 1. Folks can tune in on BTN+.