AUSTIN, Texas – Junior left fielder Maddie Gordon cranked her second home run of the 2024 campaign in the top of the first inning, but the Penn State softball team dropped a 7-1 setback against the No. 2 Texas Longhorns on Monday night at Red & Charline McCombs Field.
The Nittany Lions moved to 15-2 following the loss in Austin, snapping PSU's second winning streak of seven games or more this season. Penn State's 15-2 record still stands multiple games clear of the next-closest team in the Big Ten Conference, as the Nittany Lions currently lead Indiana's 15-4 mark in the league standings. With the victory, Texas climbs to 18-1 overall on the season, with the team's lone loss coming against nationally ranked Stanford a week ago. The Longhorns improve to 4-1 in the all-time series against Penn State.
At the dish, Gordon led the way with an absolute no-doubter to left center in the top of the first inning. The homer was her second long ball of the 2024 campaign, with her other home run coming against Morgan State on February 24. Senior right fielder Haylie Brunson added a single for PSU's second hit of the game later on, booking her third-straight game with a hit. On the defensive end, the Nittany Lions backed up their pitching staff with their second-straight error-free outing, coupling Monday night's showing in the field with a clean game against Tarleton Sunday evening.
In the circle, the Blue & White called on a three-pitcher platoon to work through Monday night's contest. Junior Mady Volpe started the game off and tossed 3.1 innings, striking out a trio of Longhorn batters. Volpe was saddled with her first loss of the 2024 campaign, moving her individual record to 5-1 this season. Sophomore Paige Maynard and junior Lydia Spalding each tossed 1.1 frames, holding Texas to just two runs apiece.
Penn State got the game started on the right foot in the opening frame, as Gordon left the yard on a 2-1 count with one of the deepest solo homers of her collegiate career, blasting the softball past the scoreboard in left center field. Volpe got to work moments later and tossed a trio of scoreless innings, but the Longhorns were able to generate some offense in the bottom of the fourth inning. Texas added two more runs in the fifth and an additional two scores in the sixth, finalizing the 7-1 result in Austin.
TOP NITTANY LION PERFORMERS
Maddie Gordon | 1-for-3, R, RBI, HR
Haylie Brunson | 1-for-3, 1B
Mady Volpe | 3.1 IP, 4H, 3R, 3ER, 4BB, 3K, 81TP
KEY INNINGS
T1 | On a 2-1 count, Gordon left the yard with one of the deepest solo homers of her collegiate career, blasting the softball past the scoreboard in left center field. PSU 1, TEX 0
B4 | Leighann Goode drew a walk, and Joley Mitchell doubled down the left field line to move Goode to third. Alyssa Washington then booked her own double down the left field line to bring Mitchell and Good around. Ashton Maloney executed a sac bunt to advance Washington to third, and Victoria Hunter singled to left to plate her. TEX 3, PSU 1
B5 | Katie Stewart hit a solo homer to left to lead off the inning. Reese Atwood singled up the middle, and Adayah Wallace came in to pinch run for her at first. After a Longhorn flew out and Wallace was caught stealing, Mitchell doubled to right center and Washington booked a double shortly thereafter to add Texas' second run of the inning.TEX 5, PSU 1
B6 | Bella Dayton tripled to right center, and after a Texas flyout, Mia Scott hit a home run to right field to bring in a pair. TEX 7, PSU 1
UP NEXT
Penn State softball continues its weeklong stay in the Lone Star State of Texas with a quartet of weekday matchups in a three-day span. The Nittany Lions head to Waco to face off against the No. 21 Baylor Bears on Wednesday, March 6 at 5 p.m. (ET), followed by a three-game true road series against the Texas State Bobcats on Thursday and Friday evening, March 7 and 8.
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Visit GoPSUSports.com for more information on Penn State softball. Fans can keep up to date with the Nittany Lion softball team on Facebook at /pennstatesoftball as well as Twitter and Instagram @PennStateSB.
