Penn State softball (26-12, 7-5 Big Ten) won games two and three against Maryland (13-23, 1-14 Big Ten) to complete the series sweep during a Saturday doubleheader at Nittany Lion Softball Park & Beard Field.

A dominant fourth inning propelled the Nittany Lions in game one, as they scored 13 runs and batted through the order to give them a lead they wouldn’t give up in a 16-4 win.

A much more defensive game followed in the second game of the day. The game was scoreless until a two-run shot by Brooke Klosowicz in the bottom of the seventh inning walked it off.

Game One

The first game of the day and the second of the series started with an offensive explosion in the first inning. Nittany Lions pitcher Bridget Nemeth allowed two runs on three hits to put Maryland up early.

Penn State responded immediately. Breanna Hanik singled to lead off the inning and was brought home on a Brooke Klosowicz single. Michela Barbanente also scored on the play, benefiting from a Maryland throwing error, and it was knotted up at two runs each after the first.

In the second inning, Mackenzie Duncan filled in for Nemeth after she let up another two runs. Duncan would strike out her first two batters to get out of the inning.

Hanik would again hit a single and be brought home. This time, it was off an Allison Oneacre RBI single to cut the Terrapin lead to just one.

Maryland would go three-up-three-down in the third. Penn State didn’t do much better. Cara Bohner would hit a double, but nothing would result from it, and the game remained 4-3 going into the fourth inning.

Duncan had another good inning in the fifth, getting out of the inning without any further damage for the Nittan Lions.

Penn State’s offense would erupt in the bottom of the fourth. The Nittany Lions would draw four walks and get eight hits during the inning, resulting in 13 runs. Highlights included a Barbanente triple, doubles by Madison Seidel and Jordan George, and finally a two-run shot by Natalie Lieto.

Another one-two-three inning for the Terrapins in the fifth sealed their fate, and Penn State took the game by a 16-4 score.

Game Two

The second game of the day, and the final game of the series, was much more defensive.

Abigail Britton got the start in the pitching circle for Penn State. She got out of an early jam and stranded three Maryland baserunners to keep the Terrapins off the scoreboard.

A Barbanente single was the only action for the Nittany Lions’ offense early as the game stayed scoreless after the opening inning.

A triple with just one out by Marland’s Jaylee Willi looked promising, but the road team was unable to capitalize, and Willi was left on base. Despite working two walks, Penn State couldn’t capitalize with any runs, and the game stayed 0-0.

Another no-hit inning for either team followed in the third.

Britton was able to get out of another pickle in the top of the fourth. She forced a groundout to strand runners at second and third. Penn State again couldn’t manage a hit, and the score remained stagnant through four.

McKenna Young would take over pitching duties for the fifth. After a sacrifice bunt followed by a wild pitch put a runner on third, Young would strike out the final batter to get out of the inning.

Despite walks by Hanik, Oneacre, and George, Penn State would come up short and couldn’t bring in a run with the bases loaded.

The Terrapins offense had no answer for Young’s pitching, and the top of the sixth was over quickly despite a lead-off walk.

A walk by Bohner kicked off the bottom of the sixth for Penn State. Frankee Flesher would come in the game to pinch run. She would advance to third after two wild pitches and would appear to be brought home with a Macy Chamberlin sacrifice fly. However, after an appeal by Maryland, Flesher would be ruled out at home, ending the inning with the game still locked at 0-0.

Another scoreless inning by the Terrapins paved the way for a walkoff opportunity in the bottom of the seventh for the Nittany Lions. Hanik would draw a lead-off walk before being put into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Barbanente. Klosowicz would then step to the plate and deliver the knockout blow with a bomb to left field, walking the game off and giving Penn State a 2-0 victory, securing the series sweep.

Takeaways

• Mackenzie Duncan pitched a great game in the early window. She went 3.2 innings while only allowing one hit and no runs. The win gives a 5-1 record on the season.
• Klosowicz was also a clear highlight in the first game of the day. She went three-for-three with three RBI’s and drew a walk.
• Abigail Britton and McKenna Young also had great performances in the pitching circle. They went a combined seven scoreless innings in the walkoff effort during the second game of the afternoon.
• Klosowicz came up clutch in the second game, hitting a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh to clinch the series sweep.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions will continue their home stand against another Big Ten team, Northwestern, next weekend. The first of a three-game series will take place on Friday, April 10, with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m. The entire series will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.