Illinois Downs Penn State

Story posted April 28, 2018 in CommRadio, Sports by Gregory Merchlinsky

Penn State Drops Double Header to Illinois

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – After the first game of the series against Illinois was suspended on Friday night due to thunderstorms in the area, the Penn State softball team picked play back up in the second inning on Saturday.

Penn State took a 3-0 lead heading into the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday, but could not maintain the lead and dropped the first game of the doubleheader 10-4.

Illinois also handled Penn State with ease in the second game of the doubleheader, winning 11-4.

Junior Paige Johnson was a bright spot for the Nittany Lions. The third basemen smashed two home runs in the series. Her first home run came in the first game and was a three-run shot while her second on the day came during the second game on a two-run line drive to right-center.

Illinois center fielder Kiana Sherlund played a huge factor in the teams’ dominant performance in both games especially in the second game where she drilled two home runs and also tallied five RBIs.

Penn State started the first game with a bang as Johnson smashed a three-run home run over the center field fence giving the Nittany Lions a 3-0 lead.

The Nittany Lions, however, would be unable to find any other rhythm offensively throughout the game as they only scored one more run in the fifth inning.

Penn State held a lead the entire game until the sixth inning where the Fighting Illini flipped the game upside down. Illinois scored seven runs on six hits in the top of the sixth and took a 5 run lead over Penn State.

The second game started with Illinois taking a quick 1-0 lead from the first home run from Sherlund which was a solo shot to right-center.

Penn State went through three pitching changes during the game and finally settled with Jessica Cummings during the third inning to finish the game for the Nittany Lions.

Sherlund opened the game up for the Illini with her second home run which was a grand slam that came during the fifth inning and gave Illinois a 9-4 lead.

Illinois added to their lead during the top of the sixth inning when they scored two extra insurance runs.

Penn State finishes the series with Illinois and plays its final home game of the season on Sunday at 12 P.M.

 

 

Gregory Merchlinsky is a senior majoring in broadcast journalism and minoring in Political Science. To contact him, email glm5163@psu.edu.