Lehigh University
7-11
Penn State
16-6
Late Lehigh Rally Can't Overcome Big Sixth Inning In 14-12 Loss At Penn State
3/14/2024 9:41:00 PM | Softball
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The Mountain Hawks hit three home runs, matching their total from their first 17 games combined. Graduate student Emily Cimino hit a grand slam and junior Julia Mrochko drove in three runs, as Lehigh falls to 7-11 on the season.
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Both teams went six up and six down through the first two innings of play. Lehigh broke through in the third, loading the bases on a walk, a hit batter and a single by first-year Gracie Smith. With two outs, Cimino drilled a shot to straightaway center field for a grand slam, her second home run of the season, to give the Mountain Hawks a 4-0 lead.
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Penn State (16-6) chipped away, scoring two runs in the bottom of the fourth and one in the fifth off senior Katelyn Young to get within 4-3.
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A two-out rally helped Lehigh reestablish a four-run cushion. Junior Rory Dudley drew a walk and then first-year Holly Lovett drilled a home run out to left, her second in as many games, to put Lehigh up 6-3. Sophomore Sydney Parlett reached on an error and then Mrochko doubled home pinch runner Maddy Schmeiser to put Lehigh back up by four.
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The Nittany Lions stormed back with 11 runs in the bottom of the sixth, doing so on seven hits while taking advantage of six Lehigh walks and one error. Gabby Garcia's two-run double tied the game at 7-7 before Brooke Klosowicz put Penn State in front with a sacrifice fly to left. Klosowicz and Maddie Gordon both drove in three runs to lead Penn State, with Klosowicz capping the inning by drawing a bases-loaded walk.
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Lehigh showed resiliency in the top of the seventh, playing five runs to get back within two. Back-to-back walks to graduate student Josie Charles and Cimino came around to score on a two-run double by senior Brooke Cannon. Senior Amanda Greaney doubled home Cannon and Mrochko followed with a two-run home run to left, the first of her career, to make it 14-12 Penn State.
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First-year Peyton Sward singled up the middle to bring the tying run to the plate, but Lydia Spalding got Smith to ground out to shortstop to end the game.
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The Nittany Lions had a slight 11-10 edge in hits. With Lovett, Mrochko and Sward all picking up a pair to lead Lehigh.
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Young allowed eight runs on five hits in five-plus innings, while junior Maria Urban and first-year Maddy Clark were both charged with three runs after combining to get Lehigh through the sixth.
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The Mountain Hawks continue action at the Penn State Softball Invitational Friday with games against Canisius (11 a.m.) and Penn State (4 p.m.). Both games will be broadcast on B1G+.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Paige Maynard (3-3)
L: Young, Katelyn (4-5)
S: Lydia Spalding (1)
Batting:
2B: Cannon, Brooke 1 ; Greaney, Amanda 1 ; Mrochko, Julia 1
HR: Cimino, Emily 1 ; Lovett, Holly 1 ; Mrochko, Julia 1
RBI: Cimino, Emily 4 ; Cannon, Brooke 2 ; Lovett, Holly 2 ; Greaney, Amanda 1 ; Mrochko, Julia 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Smith, Gracie 1 ; Charles, Josie 1 ; Cimino, Emily 2 ; Cannon, Brooke 1 ; Dudley, Rory 1 ; Lovett, Holly 1 ; Duenas, Crysta 1 ; Schmeiser, Maddy 1 ; Tabaka, Abbey 1 ; Mrochko, Julia 2
SB: Sward, Peyton 1
HBP: Mrochko, Julia 1
Batting:
2B: Emily Maddock 1 ; Maddie Gordon 1 ; Gaby Garcia 1 ; Brooke Klosowicz 1
3B: Kaitlyn Morrison 1 ; Haylie Brunson 1
RBI: Kaitlyn Morrison 1 ; Emily Maddock 1 ; Haylie Brunson 1 ; Maddie Gordon 3 ; Gianna Poletti 1 ; Liana Jones 1 ; Gaby Garcia 2 ; Brooke Klosowicz 3 ; Audree Mendoza 1
SF: Brooke Klosowicz 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kaitlyn Morrison 2 ; Emily Maddock 2 ; Michela Barbanente 1 ; Haylie Brunson 2 ; Maddie Gordon 2 ; Gianna Poletti 1 ; Liana Jones 1 ; Gaby Garcia 1 ; Jenna Nelson 1 ; Audree Mendoza 1
SB: Emily Maddock 1 ; Maddie Gordon 1
