Penn State Softball (26-14, 7-7 Big Ten) lost the second game in its series against Northwestern (19-19, 7-7 Big Ten) 13-4 at Nittany Lion Softball Park & Beard Field Saturday afternoon.

The Nittany Lions had more errors than hits in the loss and conceded to the mercy rule in five innings.

How It Happened

Bridget Nemeth started in the pitching circle for the Nittany Lions. She walked her first batter faced before allowing two singles, another walk, and a passed ball to score two runs for Northwestern in the top of the first. Penn State would go three-up-three-down in the bottom of the inning to keep the score at 2-0.

Two singles, a walk, and an error for the Nittany Lions highlighted a second poor defensive inning as they fell into a four-run deficit early.

A fielder’s choice by Michela Barbanente scored Gabby Gradishar after she walked to lead off the bottom of the second. Two more walks, including one drawn by Nemeth, would bring the Nittany Lions within two. Allison Oneacre was hit by a pitch, bringing in another run and putting a cap on a three-run inning without any hits for Penn State.

Northwestern got right back to work at the top of the third, rattling off four singles to make the game 7-3. Despite a single by Breanna Hanik, Penn State couldn’t respond with any runs.

A leadoff double, a fielding error, and two sacrifice hits brought in two more Wildcat runs in the top of the fourth.

Walks by Jordan George, Madison Seidel, and Gradishar, in addition to a Oneacre single, were the highlights of a one-run inning for Penn State. However, Natalie Lieto would ground out with the bases loaded to prevent the Nittany Lions from really capitalizing on a golden opportunity to mount a comeback.

Mackenzie Duncan filled in for Nemeth and took over pitching duties during the fifth. Even with the pitching change, the Nittany Lion defense still struggled, allowing four runs on four hits while adding a third error on the afternoon.

Hanik reached on a fielding error to lead off the bottom of the fifth, but the Nittany Lions didn’t generate any more offense and failed to bring the game within eight runs. Therefore, the game was called early by the mercy rule. The Nittany Lions fell 13-4 in just five innings.

Takeaways

• The Nittany Lions’ bats were cold all afternoon, only tallying two hits on the day.
• In addition to the slow offense, Penn State’s defense was just as bad, giving up 13 runs on 14 hits with three errors.
• Saturday’s loss loss cements a series loss against the Wildcats and also marks just the second time Penn State has been mercy-ruled this season.
• Northwestern’s Emma Raye played a great game, going three-for-four with an RBI.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions look to avoid getting swept in the series finale against Northwestern on Sunday, April 12. First pitch is set to for 11 a.m. at Nittany Lion Softball Park & Beard Field. The game will be streamed on BTN+.