Following a dominant 14-1 victory over Lafayette on Saturday afternoon, Penn State had a quick turnaround facing co-host Houston Christian at the Houston Invitational. The Huskies remained winless on the season after falling to Pittsburgh and Michigan on Friday.
In a strong defensive outing, the Nittany Lions defeated the Huskies 4-1.
Junior Bridget Nementh got the start for Penn State in her third appearance of the weekend, as Houston Christian turned to sophomore Leah Hammack.
Hammack and the Huskies’ defense quickly recorded two outs to start the opening frame. However, the Nittany Lions’ young bats stepped up big once again.
Freshman Allison Oneacre singled up the middle, and was followed by back-to-back doubles from freshman Kirsten Finarelli and sophomore Macy Chamberlin, giving the blue and white an early 2-0 lead.
Brooke Klosowicz worked a single to put two runners in scoring position for Cara Bohner, but instead Hammack recorded her second strikeout of the inning.
Penn State’s defense held momentum in the bottom of the frame, recording a 1-2-3 inning.
Houston Christian recorded a quick out to start the second, but back-to-back singles from Gabby Gradishar and Kaylie Walters put two runners on for Natalie Lieto. The Huskies escaped the jam by recording a double play.
Nemeth and the Nittany Lions’ defense had another flawless outing in the bottom of the frame, forcing Houston Christian to go three-up, three-down.
In the top half of the third, Chamberlin recorded her second two-out double of the game, but the blue and white couldn’t bring the catcher around to score.
Maddy Bailey got the Huskies on the offense going with a leadoff double in the bottom of the frame. Bailey advanced to third on a single from Hammack, but two strikeouts and a groundout prevented Houston Christian from getting on the board.
Hammack and the Huskies’ defense posted their first clean sheet of the game, not allowing any Nittany Lions on base in the fourth to keep a tight 2-0 battle.
Ella Herrewig reached base after an error from Klosowicz at third, but Houston Christian couldn’t find any further momentum, sending things back to Penn State for the top of the fifth inning.
Oneacre ripped a two-out double down the left field line for her second hit of the game, and was brought home on a single from Finarelli.
Finarelli reached third after an error from Hammack, but couldn’t find her way home after Chamberlin grounded out to the left side.
In the bottom of the frame, the Nittany Lions recorded their third 1-2-3 inning of the afternoon, as Nemeth’s statline stood at two hits, two strikeouts and zero walks.
Klosowicz extended Penn State’s lead just three pitches into the sixth inning with a home run to left field for her third long ball of the season.
With one out, junior second baseman Michela Barbenente knocked the Nittany Lions’ fifth double of the afternoon, but a lineout from Gradishar and ground out from Walters prevented any more runs from reaching the plate for the blue and white.
Defense continued to be the name of the game for Penn State in the bottom of the sixth, completing yet again another three-up, three-down inning that was topped off by a groundout to Nemeth.
The Nittany Lions entered the final frame with their two, three, four hitters up and a chance to extend their lead.
Sophomore Natalie Lieto started the inning with an infield single, but got out at second after a fielder’s choice off the bat of Oneacre.
Following a strikeout from Finarelli and a groundout from Chamberlin, the blue and white couldn’t do any damage, but still held a four-run cushion heading into the final chance for Houston Christian’s offense.
Penn State recorded two quick outs, but a home run from senior Karlie Barba kept the Huskies alive.
Houston Christian couldn’t do anymore damage, with Hammack grounding out to third base, completing the Nittany Lions’ strong defensive effort.
Up Next
Penn State will wrap up its Houston trip with a battle against in-state rival Pittsburgh at 1 p.m. Sunday.
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