Softball: Lions get swept by Iowa, lose series 2-1

State College — Few teams on campus have been hotter than Clarisa Crowell’s Nittany Lions softball team this spring. Penn State softball has won at least seven consecutive games twice this season and was quickly building towards another winning streak after defeating Iowa on Friday. However, Sunday was not the best outing for the Lions, and unfortunately, it came on a day when it played two games. Iowa softball swept the Nittany Lions by a combined score of 13-7 and took the three-game series as a result. 

Iowa softball runs away with game one

Penn State struck first in the first inning when they capitalized on an error by the Iowa shortstop, which allowed Kaitlyn Morrison to reach base and Melody Coombs to score.

Iowa answered in the third inning with a three-run blast that gave them a 3-1 lead. The Hawkeyes added a fourth run in the inning with a sacrifice fly, putting them up 4-1. Iowa continued scoring in the third inning with a pair of RBI singles that increased the lead to 6-1.

The Nittany Lions would finally answer back in the fourth inning when Lydia Coleman hit a solo home run to reduce the Iowa lead to 6-2.

Kaitlyn Morrison would join the home run party in the fifth inning with a two-run blast that cut the Iowa lead to two runs. But the Hawkeyes answered right back with two runs in the sixth inning to increase the margin to 8-4. They would add one final run in the seventh inning with an RBI double to make the final 9-4.

This was an uncharacteristic start for pitcher Bailey Parshall. The super senior suffered her fourth loss of the season by allowing only three hits but four earned runs.

Final in Game 1.

Game 2 will begin in 30 minutes! #WeAre pic.twitter.com/RI7wMmZeTg

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) March 26, 2023

Penn State softball keeps game two close but ultimately falls

In this much closer battle, the Hawkeyes scored first with an RBI double to go up 1-0. The Nittany Lions answered with an RBI single by Emily Maddock that scored Lilia Crouthamel to tie the game.

But Iowa quickly responded with a solo home run in the top of the second to reclaim the lead. 

Penn State softball would also end up scoring in the second inning, as another single by Emily Maddock drove home two runners and helped the Lions take a 3-2 lead. But the back and forth continued. Iowa scored on an RBI double in the fourth to tie the game at three runs a piece. The Hawkeyes scored the game-winning run via a single in the seventh inning, making the final score 4-3 Iowa softball.

Kylee Lingenfelter was the starter for this game. She was responsible for three of the Hawkeyes’ runs. Still, the loss was given to Bailey Parshall, who pitched in relief of Lingenfelter and gave up the game-winning Hawkeye run. This isn’t atypical, as coach Clarissa Crowell made a similar move recently.

Tough one today.

Back in action Friday against Minnesota! #WeAre pic.twitter.com/Jcs7gHhopL

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) March 26, 2023

Chance to rebound

The Lions look to rebound on the road this week against Minnesota. The first game of the series starts on Friday, at 6 pm.

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