Penn State softball (17-11) defeated St. Francis (15-11) on Tuesday evening, continuing a seven-game winning streak going into Big Ten play this weekend.

Despite a low-scoring affair from Penn State’s bats, the Nittany Lions defense performed their duties in a 2-1 victory.

How It Happened

Kylee Lingenfelter started in the circle for the Nittany Lions, her 13th of the 2022 season. She only pitched two innings, allowing one run, one hit, and giving up two walks.

Penn State’s bats started hot, as three hits from the Nittany Lions’ first three batters got the bases loaded. After a sacrifice fly from Lexie Black, Cassie Lindmark came home for the first run of the evening.

Penn State’s lead didn’t last long, though. A home run from St. Francis’ Lindsay Ward tied the game up in the top of the second. However, Penn State brought its lead back in the bottom of the second, as a Melody Coombs double sent Liana Jones across home plate.

Vanessa Oatley entered the circle at the top of the third for the Nittany Lions and showed a solid performance, allowing three hits and no runs. She was helped in no small part by Lilia Crouthamel, who made an impressive diving catch at centerfield to prevent a possible tying run. Crouthamel’s right fielding teammate, Maggie Finnegan, made another impressive catch deep at the wall in the fourth inning.

Penn State looked good in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Cassie Lindmark walked on four pitches and then Claire Swedberg, in as a pinch-runner, stole second base a few pitches later. After a walk and a sacrifice groundout, Swedberg and Ally Kurland found themselves in scoring position. But the Nittany Lions’ bats were soon silenced, as two groundouts left the runners stranded.

Bailey Parshall entered the circle in the top of the sixth, as Penn State tried to close out the last two innings. She did just that, giving up one hit and no runs in her two innings of work as the Nittany Lions took home their 17th victory.

Takeaways

• The Nittany Lions showcased their bullpen depth against St. Francis. Both Lingerfelder, Oatley, and Parshall looked solid in the circle. The three pitchers allowed just five hits between them. While the trio only threw three strike outs, they only gave up two walks throughout the game.
• Penn State’s outfield did its job and some more. Finnegan and Crouthamel’s catches in the fourth and fifth weren’t the only ones holding together the Nittany Lion defense. In an errorless game for Penn State, both the infield and the outfield stepped up for some nice plays throughout.

What’s Next

Penn State opens its Big Ten play with a three-game series against Maryland beginning Friday, March 25, at Beard Field. Friday’s game will start at 6 p.m.