Penn State softball (32-19, 11-12 Big Ten) kicked off its last regular season series of the year with two losses against No. 3 Nebraska (42-6, 22-1 Big Ten) during a Saturday afternoon doubleheader at Nittany Lion Softball Park & Beard Field.

The Nittany Lions lost the first game 5-1, with the home team not scoring a run after the first inning. In the second game, Penn State kept a lead for the majority of the contest before allowing a six-run sixth inning that gave the Cornhuskers a lead they didn’t give up, leading to a 10-4 final.

How It Happened

Game One

Nebraska’s Jordy Frahm hit a leadoff double to begin the first game of the day. She scored on a wild pitch from Abigail Britton. The Nittany Lions got out of the inning with an out at home plate, keeping the score at 1-0.

Breanna Hanik singled to lead off the bottom of the first. A wild pitch sent her to third before a ball put in play by Allison Oneacre knotted the game up at one.

Britton let up another run in the second through walking a batter and allowing a triple. McKenna Young then came in to relieve Britton. She kept the Cornhuskers at two runs by forcing a groundout to end the top of the inning.

Gabby Gradishar singled with two outs in the bottom of the second. She was left on base after Madison Seidel struck out.

Twelve batters stepped up to the plate in the third and fourth, with none reaching a base; the game remained 2-1 through four.

The Cornhuskers hit two singles on Young in the top of the fifth, leading to another run to make it 3-1.

The Nittany Lions went three-up-three-down for the third straight inning to keep their deficit at two.

Jesse Farrell homered in the top of the sixth, further extending the Nebraska lead.

Despite a Hanik single, Penn State still struggled to mount much offensively with a strikeout and a double play ending the inning.

In the seventh, Kacie Hoffman doubled to lead off the final inning. She scored on a Hannah Coor single.

Now down four, the Nittany Lions tried to mount a late comeback. However, Jordan George was the only one to reach a base, and the 5-1 score became the final.

Game Two

Bridget Nemeth started the second game in the pitching circle for the Nittany Lions. She struck out her first two batters faced to highlight a scoreless top half of the first inning.

Hanik led off the bottom of the first with a single. Oneacre also reached on a throwing error. The game remained runless after two straight outs to end the inning.

Nemeth continued a strong start, only allowing a walk in the top of the second.

Macy Chamberlin drew a leadoff walk, but three straight Nittany Lion strikeouts ended the inning.

After two walks and a throwing error, a sacrifice fly scored the first run of the game for Nebraska.

Penn State responded with a double by Kaylie Walters, followed by a two-run shot by Oneacre, giving the Nittany Lions a 2-1 lead.

Hoffman singled for the first Nebraska hit of the game in the top of the fourth. She was stranded after Nemeth struck out her fifth batter of the day.

Gradishar singled in the bottom of the fourth. She was brought home after two straight singles by Frankee Flesher and Hanik.

Nemeth stayed on fire in the fifth, getting out all three batters faced to preserve the Penn State lead.

Michela Barbanente made it 4-1 with a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth.

Ava Kiszak began the top of the sixth with a single. A Nittany Lion throwing error put runners on the corners. A fielder’s choice put two Cornhusker runners in scoring position before a Hoffman single brought in two runs. The score ended a solid day for Nemeth, as Mackenzie Duncan stepped into the game afterwards.

Duncan’s outing was short-lived. She allowed a walk, a single, and a double before being pulled in favor of Young with Nebraska taking a 6-4 lead. A sacrifice fly made it 7-4 before Young managed to get out of the inning by forcing a groundout.

The Nittany Lions went three-up-three-down with two strikeouts in the bottom of the sixth to keep it a 7-4 game.

Back-to-back Cornhusker doubles extended the Nebraska lead to 8-4 in the top of the seventh. A two-run homer by Lauren Camenzind brought the Conrhusker lead to six.

Despite a Oneacre single in the bottom of the seventh, the Nittany Lions were unable to sustain a comeback effort as they fell 10-4 in game two.

Takeaways

• The Nittany Lions had no answer for Jordy Frahm all day. She pitched a complete game in the first contest, only allowing one run, while also hitting a double. She also came in to pitch two scoreless innings in game two, finishing the day with 10 strikeouts in the pitching circle and two hits at the plate.
• Penn State’s fielding was poor in game two, with two errors, including one that sustained a six-run sixth inning for Nebraska.
• Allison Oneacre was a bright spot during the rough day for the Nittany Lions. She racked up three RBI’s combined across the two games.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions will look to avoid being swept by No. 3 Nebraska in their regular-season finale at noon on Sunday, May 3. The contest is set to be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.