After a shutout win against Illinois yesterday, Penn State clinched a playoff spot for the Big Ten Tournament in Maryland. They hope to win again today against the Fighting Illini for a strong close to the Big Ten regular season.
Penn State dominated and closed out the series with a 10-3 win against Illinois.
Sophomore right-hander Danika Frazier started in the circle for the Fighting Illini and immediately caused Kaylie Walters to strike out. But once Breanna Hanik took to the plate, she chipped it to left field and made it to first.
Allison Oneacre took to the plate and hit the ball to first, but got out, which allowed Hanik to make it to second. To keep the momentum going, Brooke Klosowicz chipped it to the infield for an RBI single, leading Hanik home for a 1-0 lead.
Bridget Nemeth got the nod to start for the blue and white and was dominant in the first. Allowing no hits in the first inning for the Fighting Illini.
The second inning was quiet for both offenses, with neither team scoring.
The blue and white went back to the top of the lineup to start the third, as Walters led off with a hit to right field, but got out. Oneacre got a walk, but nothing came out of it as the Nittany Lions got another scoreless inning.
It was another scoreless frame, as neither team could get anything going in the third.
Bats came alive for the Nittany Lions in the fourth as Macy Chamberlin made it to first with an error. Gradishar kept the energy going with a hit to midfield, allowing Chamberlin to make it to third.
Natalie Lieto drew a walk, and while the play unfolded, Gradishar successfully stole second, and Chamberlin came home on a pitcher’s error to make it 2-0.
Frankee Flesher hit a fly ball to left field for the out, but Lieto stole second, her seventh of the season. Barbanente then delivered with a deep shot to the outfield, bringing Gradishar home to make it 3-0.
Jordan George stepped to the plate and got a 3-run home run, marking her first home run of the season and raising the score to 6-0. While simultaneously tying the team’s single-season home run record with 74.
The Fighting Illini Coach Tyra Perry called a timeout to switch pitchers, putting Junior right-hander Megan Nuechterlein in the circle. Nuechterlein was able to shut down the Nittany Lions’ batters for the rest of the fourth.
Illinois came out swinging in the fourth with a solo home run by Eileen Donahue, making the score 6-1.
Nittany Lions coach Clarisa Crowell gives Nemeth a break and swaps to Mackenzie Duncan to start the bottom of the fourth. This left the Fighting Illini scoreless for the rest of the inning.
Another scoreless inning for both teams in the fifth as the Fighting Illini hope to step it up in the sixth on both sides of the ball.
The blue and white had other plans as Barbanente skipped it left field, causing Moore to make an error and made it to first. Walters followed up with a similar hit to left field, also making it to first.
Hanik stepped to the plate and instantly got a three-run home run, making it her third of the series and third day in a row. The score is 9-1, as Hanik’s home run broke the team’s single-season home run record.
With this came another pitcher swap for the Fighting Illini, with left-hander Abby Sabalaskey coming in.
Oneacre got a walk to first, and Klosowicz then hit a line drive to first but got out. A call was made that said Oneacre was also out. This caused coach Crowell to challenge the play, but she lost the challenge.
Chamberlin came in swinging and got a solo home run. The score stood at 10-1, with four runs in the sixth inning.
The Fighting Illini were not giving up, as Ellie Haggard hit it to the outfield and, with an error by Walters, made it to first. Keirys Click hit it deep into center field for a triple and an RBI. Haggard made it home, making the score 10-2.
Gabrielle Debevec hit it to right field, sending Click home.
Coach Crowell made another pitcher swap in the game to McKenna Young. The Nittany Lions were able to hold off the Illini for the rest of the inning.
Illinois was able to hold off the Nittany Lions in the seventh with no runs.
Abigail Britton was put in during the seventh and closed out the game for the Nittany Lions. Allowing for a flawless sweep against Illinois.
Up next
Penn State returns home for a three game series against Nebraska. First pitch for Game 1 of the series is set for Friday at 1 p.m.
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With a dominant win yesterday against the Fighting Illini, Penn State looks to build on its …
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