After Friday’s 8-2 loss against No. 21 Oregon, Penn State looked to bounce back and take the second game of the series on Saturday night. The Nittany Lions struggled with shutting down the Ducks’ lineup in the series opener and that trend continued early in this contest.
Penn State fell in its second straight game in Oregon’s commanding 10-1 victory as the Nittany Lions couldn’t stop the Ducks’ powerful lineup.
While right-hander Maddie Milhorn retired the blue and white quietly in the top half of the first, Oregon plated three runs later in the opening frame for the second straight game. Despite right-hander Brevyn Kellepouris striking out lead-off Ayanna Shaw, the ball went to the backstop and she reached first safely.
Unlike Friday night, the Ducks’ runs came from small ball. Kaylynn Jones poked a single through the right side and Amari Harper drew a one-out walk a few batters later. The freshman struggled with her command throughout the start and hit Rylee McCoy with the bases loaded.
Stefini Ma’ake drove in the second run off a sacrifice fly to right fielder Cara Bohner and Emma Cox followed with an RBI single to left and Oregon was quickly up 3-0. Down in an early hole for the second straight game, the Nittany Lions needed to strike back quickly.
Designated player Brooke Klosowicz delivered and blasted her ninth home run of the season over the batter’s eye in center and inched Penn State closer, 3-1. However, the Ducks scored three more runs in the second as Kellepouris struggled with location.
Addison Amaral rolled a routine ground ball to shortstop Kalli Karwowski, but she committed an error and Kellepouris worked with a lead-off runner again. Shaw then knocked a single through the left side and then both runners advanced a base when Kellepouris threw a wild pitch.
Facing the heart of the Ducks’ lineup, Elon Butler smacked a double down the left field line and extended Oregon’s lead, 5-1. The bleeding didn’t stop and Harper lifted a single to center and Kellepouris faced runners on the corner and just one out.
The Olathe, Kansas, native struck out McCoy, but Butler scored off another wild pitch thrown by Kellepouris. Bar a two-out Natalie Lieto single to right center, Penn State went down quietly in the third frame and the Ducks opened the game up later in the inning.
Karwowski committed her second error at shortstop and Oregon’s lead-off hitter reached base for the third straight inning. Amaral pulled a double down the left field line and plated another run across.
After Kellepouris recorded a strikeout, the Ducks put together a two-out rally. Jones walked and then both Ducks were in scoring position off Kellepouris’ fourth wild pitch. Oregon’s lineup is filled with many power hitters and the long ball put this game out of reach.
Butler blasted a three-run home run over the right field wall and blew the game completely open, 10-1. Down nine runs, Klosowicz was the only Nittany Lion to reach base in the fourth and was left stranded in scoring position.
The Ducks secured the series win in five innings as Penn State committed three errors and allowed eight hits. With the loss, the blue and white fell to 19-8 on the season.
Up Next
Penn State wraps up its road trip in the series finale against No. 21 Oregon at 3 p.m. Sunday. The game will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.
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