Penn State softball (26-13, 7-6 Big Ten) dropped its series opener against Northwestern (18-19, 6-7 Big Ten) 8-2 at Nittany Lion Softball Park & Beard Field following its series sweep of Maryland last weekend.

The Nittany Lions’ starter, McKenna Young, tossed an uncharacteristically bad outing, and the Penn State bats took five innings to push a run across. Northwestern starter Marina Mason tossed six innings against the Nittany Lions and struck out ten. She only allowed two hits through the start.

How It Happened

Young took the mound for the Nittany Lions and retired the first batter she faced in seven pitches with a fly-out. She got the two of the next three batters down swinging, walking one, but escaping without any damage.

For Northwestern, Mason got the start. She retired the Nittany Lions in a similar fashion, striking out two, walking the three-hole, and getting Penn State’s best bat to foul out.

Young ran into some trouble in the third with two outs when Izzy Cunnea launched a double off the center field wall. But Young got Kate Renschen to weakly ground out to first, ending the frame.

The second inning went no better for Penn State. Mason went deep in counts with Jordan George and Natalie Lieto, but put them both down swinging. Gabby Gradishar watched three pitches go by, and the home plate umpire rang her up on the third.

The Wildcats took the momentum of three consecutive strikeouts into the third frame. Their first two batters reached on a hit-by-pitch and a bunt single. Young, with two runners on, worked the Wildcats’ two-hole into a two-strike hole, but left a pitch high and away that Kaylie Avvisato got hold of.

Emma Raye kept the bats rolling with a single through the left side, and then stole second after Young got the first out of the inning. A groundball moved her to third, and a walk put runners on the corners. Northwestern put on a double-steal play, which drew a throw to second base, and scored Raye.

Now working with two outs and a runner in scoring position, Young put an off-speed pitch on the counter for Cunnea, who knocked a single right back up the middle.

Penn State pulled Young and replaced her with Brevyn Kellepouris, who finally got the third out of the third inning.

Down 5-0, the Nittany Lions needed to start scoring, but they wouldn’t get it with the turnover of their lineup. Lead-off batter, Breanna Hanik, worked a two-out walk, but Michela Barbanente grounded out to end the inning.

The Wildcats tacked another three runs on in the fourth, extending their lead to eight. A fielding error and a wild pitch put runners on second and third, with only one down. Raye worked herself into a hitters count and jumped on a fastball over the outside part of the plate, launching another three-run shot into center field.

Kellepouris produced two ground balls to end the frame.

With the heart of Penn State’s order due up, there was no better time for them to kickstart a comeback. However, Mason got the first two Nittany Lions to strike out looking and swinging, then produced a pop-up off of George’s bat.

Kellepouris retook the mound in the fifth and posted a much-needed clean inning that only took her ten pitches.

Just as the Wildcats had heading into the third inning, the Nittany Lions finally had some momentum, despite the deficit. Lieto led off with a solo home run to center, and Penn State finally got on the board. Frankee Flesher worked a walk, and Macy Chamberlin followed it up with a single.

With two runners on and one out, Hanik flew one weakly to left field, and Cunnea made a diving catch to retire her. Barbanente struck out to end the fifth with only one run worth of damage.

Kellepouris stayed on the mound to eat innings for the Penn State pitching staff. She allowed a lead-off single and a double two plays later, but lucked into an inning-ending double play on a line drive to second base.

Still down seven runs, but with a little more momentum, the Nittany Lions had two more chances to extend this game. Brooke Klosowicz and Allison Oneacre both worked walks to start the inning, and following a ground out, both advanced into scoring position.

They advanced another 60 feet on a wild pitch, which brought the deficit to six runs. However, Oneacre never made it the last 60 feet, as Lieto and Gradishar were both retired.

The Nittany Lions stuck with Kellepouris for the seventh and she faced four Wildcats, keeping them scoreless in the seventh with a strikeout.

In their last opportunity to extend or end the game in their favor, the Nittany Lions were retired in order by the Wildcats’ closer Renae Cunningham.

Takeaways

• McKenna Young turned in her worst start of the season, allowing five runs through only two and two-thirds innings. The outing took a turn for the worse when Avvisato beat her fastball to the outside part of the plate and sent it to the opposite field. It’s difficult to justify an outing of five runs over fewer than three innings, but outside of the home run, she didn’t pitch too poorly.
• Home runs took the Nittany Lions out of this game by the fifth inning, as Northwestern launched two three-run blasts. Prior to the game, Penn State had only allowed 27 home runs through 38 games, which ranks as the 14th lowest in the Big Ten.
• Northwestern’s starter Marina Mason has posted a 2.47 ERA so far this season, and its only bound to dip after her excellent start against Penn State. Mason kept the Nittany Lion bats at bay, striking out ten and holding the top-five Big Ten offense to only two runs. Luckily for Penn State, Northwestern’s ace is far and wide its best pitcher, and the next two games should be abundant with offense.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions will continue their home stand against Northwestern on Saturday, April 11, for Bark in the Park and Alumni & Friends Appreciation Day. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. The game will be streamed on BTN+.