Penn State Splits Doubleheader with Saint Francis

posted April 3, 2019 in CommRadio, Sports by Michael Daher & Mitch Broder

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State split its doubleheader against the Saint Francis Red Flash on Wednesday in two games that were full of both home runs and errors. The Nittany Lions won game one by a score of 8-7 and lost in the second game to Saint Francis 17-13.

The Red Flashes got to an early start putting about four runnings to start the first inning. Penn State fought back, able to tie it up by the fourth inning.

Things got going in a hurry in the top of the fourth as Kassidy Troxell for SFU hit a bomb to center field and the Red Flash regained the lead at 5-4. After the home run, Parshall was able to recover and retired the next three SFU batters. After a one-two-three inning for the Nittany Lions in the top of fifth, Delaney Elling absolutely crushed one to center field for a home run to tie the game up at 5-5 after the fifth.

Heading into the bottom of the sixth, Penn State was down 6-5 when sophomore Dani Fey just got enough of the pitch to carry it over the wall to tie the game up at 6-6.

After seven innings the score stayed tied at six apiece, so they headed to extra innings. To lead off the top of the eighth, Saint Francis centerfielder Jordan Frank had a solo shot to center to take a 7-6 lead. After multiple errors with two outs Saint Francis was able to load the bases. However, Sierra McKee hit a ball that looked like it would bring in a few runs but Penn State centerfielder Fey made a great diving catch to keep the SFU lead at just 7-6.

In the bottom of eighth, Meadow Uncapher was able to strike out Fey to start the inning. With the next at-bat, Melina Livingston got one through the gap to get the tying run on first. Then with next at-bat, Toni Polk crushed one to center field for the walk-off two-run home run.

In the second game, both teams put on a home run hitting display, combining for nine home runs. Six of those nine were off the bats of Nittany Lions, including freshman Melina Livingston with two, as well as senior Toni Polk, freshman Chelsea Bisi, junior Destiny Weber and sophomore Dani Fey all hitting one.

All those home runs, however, were not enough to overcome the eight errors the Nittany Lions had defensively. Saint Francis was able to plate nine runs in the third inning thanks to five errors by Penn State.

The offense was there as Penn State tried to claw back into the game, cutting Saint Francis’ lead to 15-12, but the bats kept going for the Red Flash as they put two more runs on the board in the top of the sixth inning to extend their lead to 17-12.

“Well I’m really proud of how we fought back in game one," Penn State head coach Amanda Lehotak said. "Game two I thought we fought well, however, I think the theme of the night is our lack of defense. I thought our defense both games was unacceptable.”

With the split Penn State is now 18-18. Penn State will travel to Purdue next for a three-game series against the Boilermakers starting Friday, April 5.

 

 

Michael Daher is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email mjd6341@psu.edu.

Mitch Broder is a freshman majoring in journalism. To contact him, email mub584@psu.edu.