Penn State softball edges Purdue late to open pivotal B1G series

Riding a three-game winning streak, Penn State softball traveled to West Lafayette to take on Purdue this weekend. In a tightly contested battle in game one on Friday, the Nittany Lions used late-inning drama to take down the Boilermakers 4-3. 

Stalemate early

Penn State softball scored three out of its four runs in the first inning of this game. Lexie Black, the recent hero for the Lions, hit a single up the middle, which scored Emily Maddock and gave Penn State the 1-0 lead. The Lions then added their second and third runs of the inning via a two-run double from Kaitlyn Morrison that scored both Black and Cassie Lindmark. However, Purdue quickly answered with a two-run home run and an RBI single in the bottom of the second to tie the game.  

QUITE an eventful top of the first?
RBI Lexie starts things off, and KMo knocked in a couple more as PSU takes a three-run edge into the home half?

M1 | PSU 3, PUR 0#WeAre pic.twitter.com/W0TshA94Nv

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) May 5, 2023

Lions break through late

The game remained stuck in a stalemate for the next four innings. However, Penn State finally broke through in the seventh inning when Emily Maddock smacked an RBI single that scored Maggie Finnegan. This go-ahead hit helped the Lions regain the lead 4-3.  

Pitcher Kylee Lingenfelter got the job done in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win for the Lions. She also picked up her 10th win of the season after pitching five and two-thirds innings and allowing a single hit with six strikeouts.

Pivotal series for Penn State softball

With the 4-3 win, the Nittany Lions reached .500 with a 10-10 record in conference play and a 29-14 overall. This win, along with the rest of this series, will be crucial for the Lions to attain a winning record in conference play and a higher seed in the upcoming Big Ten tournament. Stay tuned to Basic Blues Nation for updates on the weekend series. 

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