Softball Edged By Penn State in Game Two

Mar 28 | Softball

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PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers softball was edged out by Penn State 7-6, on Saturday afternoon at the RU Softball Complex.

The Nittany Lions took a two-run lead after their first at-bat, but the Scarlet Knights powered back to take a 5-2 edge thanks to four runs in the third. While PSU regained the lead and went ahead 6-5 in the top of the fifth, Baileigh Burtis collected her fifth home run of the year to knot the score at 6-6 in the bottom half. PSU prevailed, however, pulling back in front with a solo home run in the seventh.

Penn State takes a 2-0 lead in the series while RU dropped to 17-17 overall and 3-8 in Big Ten play.

Penn State 7, Rutgers 6

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

Sophomore Baileigh Burtis finished the game 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored, including her fifth home run of the season.
Classmate Riley Hwang delivered an RBI double and scored a run.
Junior Sam Rohwer, senior Siera Hoekstra, and sophomore Jayla Fuller all scored in the loss.
Sophomore Kelsey Hoekstra got the start, while sophomore Kassandra Gewecke was credited with the loss. Gewecke fell to 5-9 following four innings of work and allowing five runs on five hits with a pair of strikeouts.

THE RUNDOWN

Penn State's Michela Barbanente took the seventh pitch of the game over the wall in center field while Jordan George captured a bases-loaded walk to put the guests up 2-0 after a half inning of play.
Rutgers cut their deficit to run in their first plate appearance of the day on a sacrifice fly by Baileigh Burtis that brought Sam Rohwer home. Back-to-back walks put Roher onto second and a wild pitch put her into position to come home on Burtis' fly out.
The Scarlet Knights put away four runs in the third to take a 5-2 lead. Jayla Fuller led off with a single and managed to score on Riley Hwang's double to center. Two batters later, Hwang scored on a Siera Hoekstra fielder's choice as the Nittany Lions were unable to choose between stopping Hoekstra at first or Hwang at home. Rutgers later plated two more on a sac fly and an error. With RU runners on second and third, Stephanie Kraska's sac fly sent in Burtis, while Hoekstra was able to score on the misplay in trying to stop her from advancing at third.
The Nittany Lions, however, responded with a three-run shot from Brooke Klosowicz to left to knot the score at 5-5.
PSU took back the lead in the top of the fifth on a Gabby Gradishar RBI single, but Rutgers tied the game back up with its first at-bat. Burtis took a 1-2 count down the left field line and out of the complex to even the game at 6-6.
With two outs in the top of the seventh, it was Gradishar again returning the lead back to her Nittany Lions. This time it was with a solo home run to left-center.

UP NEXT

The Rutgers-Penn State series concludes on Sunday, March 29, at 1 p.m. at the RU Softball Complex. Admission is free. It will be the Women In Sports Appreciation Game with free "Rutgers Watches Women's Sports" t-shirts at the marketing table while supplies last.

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