UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State softball fell in a six-inning contest to Illinois in its regular season finale Sunday, May 8 at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field.
(Photo of Penn State Seniors Courtest of Penn State Athletics)
The Nittany Lions honored their seven seniors pregame for their hard work and dedication to the program. The Blue and White (29-23, 14-9 B1G) suffered its third Big Ten series loss of the 2016 season with the 9-0 loss to the Fighting Illini. However, Penn State softball won a program-best five B1G series in its 2016 campaign, including sweeping three.
Penn State ranked in the top four of the Big Ten Conference regular season standing for the entirety of conference play sitting as high as third for three consecutive weeks.
The Blue and White tallied just three hits in the loss with Macy Jones (Ashburn, Va.), Mollie Sorenson (Stephenson Ranch, Calif.) and Toni Polk (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) notched one hit apiece. Junior Marlaina Laubach (Northampton, Pa.) suffered the loss; throwing just one inning, while Madison Seifert (Wildwood, Mo.) pitched 4.1 innings and Christy Von Pusch (Bryn Mawr, Pa.) threw 0.2 innings for the Blue and White.
Illinois notched 12 hits on the day with five players earning multi-hit games and Allie Bauch driving in five RBI, while Nicole Evans brought in two runs for the Fighting Illini.
Illinois got out to a quick lead in the top of the first inning using three-straight hits including a home run over the left field wall to take a 2-0 lead over the Nittany Lions with one out. Penn State was able to work its way out of the jam getting the next two batters out on fly outs to close out the top of the first inning.
The Fighting Illini extended its lead to 5-0 in the top of the second inning with its second home run of the game, this time a three-run round-tripper over the right field wall.
The Nittany Lions found some offense in the bottom of the fifth inning with two singles but with runners in scoring position but Illinois notched a ground out to first base before the Blue and White could score.
Illinois’ offense exploded in the top of the sixth inning putting runners in scoring position with one out before three-straight hits brought in three runs for the Fighting Illini. After a quick pitching change Illinois brought in one final run to take a 9-0 lead into the bottom half of the inning.
Penn State was unable to generate any offense in the bottom of the sixth inning falling 9-0 in its regular-season finale.
PENN STATE FOURTH SEED IN BIG 10 TOURNAMENT TO BE HOSTED AT PSU
ROSEMONT, Ill. – With the conclusion of the 2016 regular season, the Penn State softball team earned the No. 4 seed for the 2016 Big Ten Softball Tournament hosted at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field, May 12-14.
For the first time in program history the Blue and White will play host of the 2016 Big Ten Softball Tournament at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field. The tournament will feature 12 of the 14 Big Ten teams and will see 11 games played over the course of three days.
With the No. 4 seed, the Nittany Lions earn a bye in the first round of the tournament and will play the winner of No. 5 Nebraska and No. 12 Purdue in the quarterfinals Friday, May 14 at 5:30 p.m.
BTN will provide live coverage of the entire Big Ten Softball Tournament. Studio coverage can be found in the B1G Diamond Report on both Friday night at approximately 10 p.m. and following the championship game on Saturday, at approximately 8:30 p.m. On-site interviews with a winning player and coach can also be seen immediately following every game of the tournament.
All-session tickets are $22 for adults and $11 for students and kids 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-NITTANY, Monday thru Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., they can also be purchased in-person at the Bryce Jordan Center Athletic Ticket Office Monday through Friday 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. or online. Single session and packages for groups will be announced at a later date.
The Nittany Lions are 29-23 overall on the season and 14-9 in Big Ten Conference play, winning five B1G series and sweeping three in the regular season. Penn State has only finished in the top four in the Big Ten on three other occasions, finishing third in both 1999 and 2000 and placing fourth in the 2011 campaign.
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