STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Rutgers softball split the series-opening doubleheader with Penn State on Friday at Beard Field.

The Scarlet Knights extended its win-streak to three off a two-run double from freshman Kayla Bock and a solo shot from fifth-year senior Anyssa Iliopoulos to take the opening game, 3-2. However, the streak was halted in the nightcap as the Lady Lions overcame RU's early 2-0 lead for a 10-3 victory.
 

Rutgers 3, Penn State 2

STANDOUT STATS

• Sophomore Ashley Hitchcock got her third-straight win and hurled 5.1 innings total allowing one run on two hits. The right-hander fanned two Lady Lions.
• Fifth-year senior Anyssa Iliopoulos connected for her second home run of the year to score the game-winning run.
• Freshman pinch runner Kobie Hura and sophomore Kiersten Withstandley also scored runs in the victory.
• Freshman Kayla Bock made the most of her lone appearance at the plate pinch-hitting in the fifth two for a two-RBI double.

THE RUNDOWN

• Withstandley and Katie Wingert walked to open the fifth inning and advanced into scoring position off the sac bunt from Kiana Workman. With two outs, Bock came to the plate and delivered a two-run double to right field to break the scoreless stalemate.
• Penn State tacked on a run in the bottom of the inning with an RBI triple to right-center from Ally Kurland. Later, Hailey Hoklotubbe made a diving catch at the warning track in center and caught the Lady Lion failing to tag for the double play and the end of the inning.
• Iliopoulos lifted Rutgers to a 3-1 advantage in the sixth with a two-out solo home run to left-center.

KNIGHT NOTES

• Bock notched her team-leading fourth double of the year and added her eighth and ninth RBIs of her rookie season.
• Iliopoulos went long for career home run number 25 and her second of the 2021 season.
• The victory was the sixth straight over Penn State.

 

Penn State 10, Rutgers 3

STANDOUT STATS

• Sophomores Kiersten Withstandley and Payton Lincavage led RU with a pair of hits in the loss. Lincavage went 2-for-4 with a run scored while Withstandley was 2-for-2 with an RBI.
• Graduate student Izzy Berouty struck out two Lady Lions in the start.
   

THE RUNDOWN

• Rutgers jumped out to an early lead. With two down, Iliopoulos and Withstandley used back-to-back doubles for a 2-0 Scarlet Knight advantage in the first.
• Penn State got one run back in the bottom of the inning on a Kaitlyn Morrison RBI single up the middle.
• The Lady Lions when in front at their next turn at the plate as they tacked six runs on five hits for a 7-2 lead.
• Lincavage led off the third with a single to left in the top of the third and later scored on an Iliopoulos groundout to short.
• Penn State put up two more runs in the fifth on a two-RBI single to left-center by Livingston and added another in the sixth on a home run by Kennedy Legg.
   

FRIDAY DOUBLEHEADER HIGHLIGHTS

 

UP NEXT

Rutgers and Penn State meet again Saturday for two. The Scarlet Knights and Lady Lions square off in another doubleheader with first pitch set for 1 p.m. and approximately 3 p.m.


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