Penn State softball (27-16, 7-9 Big Ten) lost to Ohio State (22-21, 9-7 Big Ten) 4-3 in walkoff fashion at Buckeye Field in Columbus, Ohio, on Friday Night.

The Nittany Lions scored all three of their runs in the first inning and held on to their lead up until the bottom of the seventh, when Buckeye infielder Sami Bewick walked off the game with a two-run single.

How It Happened

Ohio State pitched Jenna Molk, and the Buckeyes’ defense started cold at the top of the first. She allowed Allison Oneacre, Brooke Klosowicz, and Gabby Gradishar to score. A combination of three walks, two throwing errors, and a pitch that hit Natalie Lieto resulted in three Penn State runs off of a no-hit first inning.

McKenna Young had a much better start in the pitching circle for the Nittany Lions. She got out of the inning with just three batters faced to keep it at 3-0 after the opening inning.

Oneacre and Klosowicz reached again on a walk and a throwing error, respectively. Gradishar also got on base after a fielder’s choice, getting Oneacre out at third. Both Klosowicz and Gradishar were stranded after a groundout hit by Lieto.

Like the first, Young went three-up-three-down to end the second inning quickly.

Frankee Flesher got the first hit of the game with a single with two outs in the top of the third. She was stranded on the ensuing at-bat.

A throwing error and a walk paved the way for the first Ohio State run of the night. A single by Abbie Wilhem brought in Izzy Neal for an unearned run to make it 3-1 through three.

Despite walks drawn by Klowowicz and Grashar, the Nittany Lions couldn’t add to their lead, and the score remained 3-1 after four and a half innings.

A leadoff home run by Taylor Cruse shortened Penn State’s lead to just one in the bottom of the fourth.

The Nittany Lions again stranded two runners in the fifth. This time, it was Madison Seidel and Macy Chamberlin who were left on base after Seidel hit a single and Chamberlin walked.

Brevyn Kellepouris took over pitching duties for the bottom of the fifth. Even with a leadoff single and intentional walk, Abigail Britton was put in the game, in relief of Kellepouris, and promptly got out of the jam to keep the game at 3-2.

Lorin Boutte checked into the game to pitch for the Buckeyes in the sixth. She ended the inning with just four batters faced, with Gradishar drawing a walk, but not advancing past first.

Britton struck out Ohio State’s clean-up hitter in Cruse before forcing two groundouts, ending the sixth inning with Penn State’s lead still intact.

Another strong inning by Boutte gave the Buckeyes a chance down 3-2 going into the bottom of the seventh.

Britton stayed in the game, looking to earn the save and seal the win for the Nittany Lions. She struck out her first batter before Neal drew a walk. Skylar Limon hit a double to put two runners in scoring position with just one out for the Buckeyes. Britton struck out her next batter and intentionally walked Wilheim to load the bases with two outs. Sami Bewick walked off the game with a single, scoring two runs to end the game 4-3.

Takeaways

• Ohio State’s pitching really shone in this one, allowing zero earned runs, just four hits, while striking out nine.
• Sami Bewick was the hero for the Buckeyes, rising to the moment in the bottom of the seventh, and getting her only hit of the day to walk off the game.
• Frankee Flesher had a nice game offensively for the Nittany Lions. She was the only batter to have multiple hits, finishing with two singles and an RBI.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions will continue their series with Ohio State on Saturday, April 18. The game is set to start at 2 p.m. at Buckeye Field in Columbus, Ohio, and will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.