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March 11, 2018
HOUSTON, Texas - The Penn State softball team fell to Iowa State and Houston 3-0 to close out the Houston Hilton Plaza Classic Sunday, March 11.
Senior Jessica Cummings (Owings, Md.) struck out a season-best six batters against Iowa State, going all six innings in the circle, while Madison Shaffer (New Castle, Pa.) struck out six pitching all six innings against Houston.
Sophomore Delaney Elling (Washington, Pa.) and junior Meghan Williams (Bethlehem, Pa.) each tallied a hit in game one and freshman Haley Vallejos (Chandler, Ariz.) notched the lone hit in game two against Houston.
Game One: Iowa State 3, Penn State 0
A solo home run with one out allowed Iowa State to open up scoring in the bottom of the first inning before Cummings got a strikeout and a fly out to end the defensive inning. The second home run of the game with a runner on first base extended the Cyclone lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third inning.
The Nittany Lions looked to answer in the top of the fourth inning when they loaded the bases on singles from Elling and Williams and Paige Johnson (Clarksville, Tenn.) was hit by a pitch with two outs. A ground out to short would end the inning before a run could touch home for the Blue and White as it continued to trail 3-0.
Penn State was unable to generate any further offense in the final three innings, falling 3-0 to Iowa State.
Game Two: Houston 3, Penn State 0
Shaffer forced Houston to strand two runners in the bottom of the first inning, getting two strikeouts but the Cougars would strike in the bottom of the second getting runners on second and third for an Arielle James single into left center that would bring in two runs with two outs.
Houston capitalized on a Penn State error in the bottom of the third inning as Sarah Queen came around to score on a ground out to short stop to extend its lead to 3-0.
In the top of sixth inning with two outs, Vallejos came on as a pinch hitter and laced a first-pitch single up the middle but was left stranded at first base. The Nittany Lions were retired in order in the top of the seventh inning to fall 3-0 in its final game of the Houston Hilton Plaza Classic.
Up Next:
The Nittany Lions open their 2018 home season Friday, March 16-Sunday, March 18 when it hosts Kent State for a three-game series. First pitch of game one on Friday night is set for 6 p.m. at NIttany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field.