Softball Recap: Penn State, Parshall Blank Rival Pitt

State College — It’s always a good day when the Penn State Nittany Lions take down an in-state rival, regardless of the sport. Penn State softball did just that against Pitt on Tuesday, in a matchup often coined as a “Keystone Rivalry.” Led by Bailey Parshall, the game was a nail-biter throughout but ended in the Lions’ favor.

Bailey Parshall Blanks Pitt

Penn State held Pitt scoreless the entire game due to another standout performance from super senior Bailey Parshall. Parshall has posted a season ERA of 0.96 so far, which ranks second in the Big Ten. Moreover, Bailey Parshall has the lowest opposing batting average in the conference at .132. Parshall has struck out 95 batters (fourth in the Big Ten) and has the second most wins in the Big Ten at 11. She has only allowed eleven earned runs and nine walks the entire season. Given all this, Parshall has easily been one of the best pitchers in the Big Ten this season and will help Penn State softball reach new heights. 

700 BAILEY PARSHALL

With that strikeout #queenB Bailey Parshall becomes the second player in program history to reach 700 strikeouts! #WeAre pic.twitter.com/tXOeU1UVJu

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) March 21, 2023

In another complete game against Pitt, Bailey Parshall struck out eleven batters on 109 pitches. On top of that, she allowed no earned runs and no walks. 

#queenB Bailey Parshall never fails to disappoint??#WeAre pic.twitter.com/q99KItoDo1

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) March 21, 2023

Penn State Softball Walks it Off

Pitt’s Abby Edwards kept the Penn State bats quiet the whole game. Edwards allowed only three hits and two walks and struck out five batters.

The Lions loaded the bases in the eighth inning from a single from Liana Jones, a walk from Lilia Crouthamel, and a single from Melody Coombs. Then, with the bases loaded, Emily Maddock hit a walk-off single to score Jones and win the game for the Nittany Lions 1-0.

1-0 in a thriller tonight for the blue and white.

We own the state for one more year ➡️ Big Ten Play this weekend! #WeAre pic.twitter.com/pY88OxWdMM

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) March 22, 2023

Penn State softball opens conference play against Iowa in State College on Friday

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