Penn State Softball (7-2, 0-0 Big Ten) added wins against Lafayette (0-4, 0-0 Patriot League) and Houston Christian (1-7, 0-0 SLC) in the team’s second day at the Houston Invitational.

The Nittany Lions won by a combined margin of 18-2 between the two games and now stand at 3-1 going into the final day of the Invitational.

Game One

Despite drawing three walks in the top of the first inning, a double play stopped the Nittany Lions from scoring any runs.

Mackenzie Duncan walked her first batter but also managed to get out of the inning to make it 0-0 after the opening inning.

Penn State stranded another runner in the second inning to stay off the scoresheet. After a rough start to the inning, Duncan was pulled and replaced by Abigail Britton after she walked in a run. Britton forced a double play on the first batter she faced to keep the Lafayette lead at one.

Kaylie Walters worked a walk on a full count to start the third. She was brought home with a Natalie Lieto double to tie the game. Allison Oneacre hit a sac-fly to score Lieto before the end of the inning to give Penn State the lead. Britton got through the side in the bottom of the third with ease, getting three outs in five pitches to hold the game at 2-1.

Brooke Klosowicz was walked to give the Nittany Lions a runner on first to begin the top of the fourth. A Madison Seidel sac-bunt forced an error, and Klosowicz scored on the play. Walters and Lieto both singled following the run. Walters scored off a double by Oneacre, then a three-run home run was hit by Kirsten Finarelli to make it a five-run inning for Penn State.

Britton let up a single but stranded the runner to keep the game at 7-1 going into the fifth and final inning.

Gabby Gradishar hit an rbi double in the last inning. A single by Jordyn Jochims brought in another run, and it was followed up by a drawn walk by Oneacre. A Michela Barbanente double was the last hit in a seven-run inning for the Nittany Lions. Lafayette went three-up-three-down to end the game at 14-1.

Game Two

Macy Chamberlin hit a two-run double, scoring Oneacre and Finarelli in the first. Bridget Nemeth got out all three batters to keep the game at 2-0.

Both teams were scoreless in the second, third, and fourth innings. The only hits for Penn State were singles by Gradishar and Walters in the second, and a double by Chamberlin in the third.

Oneacre doubled in the fifth and scored when Finarelli hit a single. Nemeth continued her strong game, keeping Houston Christian scoreless through five innings.

Klosowicz hit a leadoff homer in the sixth to give Penn State a 4-0 lead. Barbanente was left on base after she hit a double.

In the bottom of the seventh, Nemeth let up a homer to make it 4-1. She forced a groundout to end the game and give Penn State the second win of the day.

Takeaways

• Both Abigail Britton and Bridget Nemeth both had great days on the mound. With Britton allowing just one hit and no runs in 3.2 innings, and Nemeth pitching a complete game.
• Kirsten Finarelli had a five rbi day, with four coming against Lafayette.
• Oneacre continued her strong start to begin the season; she tallied three hits and three rbi’s.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions have one game left in the Houston Invitational. They face off against Pitt on Sunday, February 15. The game starts at 1 p.m. and is at Cougar Softball Stadium in Houston, Texas.