Fresh off a 15-4 win over Radford, Penn State took the field in Salem, Virginia, for a Friday night matchup with Boston College. This marked the second meeting between the teams this season, with the Nittany Lions previously defeating the Eagles 7-0 on opening weekend at the NFCA Leadoff Classic.
Penn State had another offensive outburst, defeating Boston College 8-3.
The Nittany Lions grabbed the bats first, facing right-hander Kelly Colleran. The Boston College pitcher got off to a fast start, striking out slugger Allison Oneacre on three pitches.
Center fielder Natalie Lieto knocked a double for the blue and white’s first hit of the game, but Colleran stood strong, keeping Penn State off the scoreboard in the opening frame.
Left-hander Brevyn Kellepouris got the starting nod for the Nittany Lions, allowing two singles in the home half of the first.
The Eagles had two runners on with one out, but couldn’t capitalize, keeping the game at a scoreless tie after the first frame.
As the first batter of the second inning, Breanna Hanik launched the first home run of her collegiate career to give the blue an early one-run lead.
With two runners in scoring position and no outs, first baseman Gabby Gradishar ripped a two-RBI single, bringing the Penn State lead to 3-0. A single from Oneacre brought Gradishar around for another run, giving the Nittany Lions a four-run advantage heading into the bottom of the second.
The blue and white defense finished its strong inning, setting Boston College in order to end the frame.
The Eagles made a pitching change, bringing left-hander Alyx Rossi to the circle to face the five, six and seven hitters in the Penn State order.
Hanik led things off for the second straight inning, this time with a double. The freshman couldn’t be brought around as Rossi settled in, keeping the Nittany Lions’ lead at 4-0.
In the bottom of the third, Boston College threatened to chip into the Penn State lead after singles from Kae DePerio and Emma Knight put two runners on with one out.
Kellepouris and the Nittany Lions’ defense escaped the jam to keep the shutout intact.
The blue and white added another run in the fourth inning after Oneacre launched a solo home run for the 10th long ball of her rookie season. Defensively, Penn State recorded another three-up, three-down inning to grab the bats once again.
Catcher Madison Seidel singled for the Nittany Lions in the top of the fifth, but nothing came of it as Boston College took over at the plate down 5-0.
DePerio and Nicole Riddell reached base to put runners on second and third with one out for the Eagles. Penn State went to the bullpen, bringing in right-hander Mackenzie Duncan.
A fielding error committed by shortstop Kaylie Walters off the bat of Knight brought both runners in as Boston College looked to chip away.
A single from Abby Ptak and a walk from Janis Espinoza loaded up the bases for the Eagles with two outs down three runs.
Duncan ended the threat, striking out Adriana Martinez to keep the Nittany Lions’ lead at 5-2 entering the sixth inning.
Walters reached on a single and Lieto on a hit by pitch to put two runners on for Brooke Klosowicz with one out. Klosowicz delivered, knocking a double to bring in Walters.
A Michela Barbanente bunt single and groundout from Hanik scored two more runs for Penn State as the Nittany Lions led 8-2, gearing up for the home half of the sixth.
Right-hander Bridget Nemeth came out to the circle for the sixth as the blue and white had two more defensive outings to close out its victory.
Another Walters error put DePerio on, but Boston College didn’t threaten any more as Penn State kept its six-run lead heading into the final frame.
Rossi and the Eagles’ defense stood strong in the seventh, posting a one, two, three inning. However, Boston College had some work to do in its final at-bat, still down 8-2.
Knight ripped a home run deep to center field to start off the inning and get a run back for the Eagles as quickly as possible.
The Nittany Lions’ defense recorded two fast outs, bringing up Espinoza as Boston College’s last hope.
Nemeth had other plans, striking out the Eagles’ second baseman to complete Penn State victory.
Up Next
The Nittany Lions open their Saturday slate at the Hokie Invite with a 1 p.m. meeting against JMU.
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