WACO, Texas – Senior shortstop Kaitlyn Morrison registered a pair of hits en route to a 2-for-3 performance in the box with an RBI, but the Penn State softball team was unable to overcome the No. 19 Baylor Bears in a 4-1 result Wednesday night at Getterman Stadium.
The defeat drops Penn State's overall season record to 15-3 overall, with the Nittany Lions maintaining a 1-2 mark against nationally ranked opposition so far this year. PSU owns a high-profile victory over then-No. 16 Arkansas from earlier in the season during the Paradise Classic in Boca Raton, Florida. The Nittany Lions dropped their second all-time meeting against the Bears on Wednesday, moving to 0-2 against Baylor in a series dating to 2014. The midweek win brings Baylor's overall season record to 13-3, with the Bears winning each of their last 12 contests.
Morrison, a native of South Park, Pennsylvania, led the way for the Blue & White, recording her fourth multi-hit game of the 2024 season and PSU's 30th individual multi-hit performance this year. Elsewhere in the lineup, junior right fielder Haylie Brunson continued her impressive streak of performances at the plate with her ninth double of the season and her 12th extra-base knock of 2024. Senior catcher Gaby Garcia, senior center fielder Liana Jones and senior third baseman Emily Maddock each recorded hits on the evening, with Jones logging PSU's only other extra-base hit with a double in the second inning.
In the circle, junior right-hander Mady Volpe booked her eighth start of the season and second consecutive start against a nationally ranked foe. The Lansdale, Pennsylvania, native tossed 3.2 innings, letting up a trio of hits and runs, with a single score credited as an earned run. Volpe fanned a trio of batters and registered two walks against the Bears, moving to 5-2 individually after being saddled with Wednesday night's loss. Junior lefty Lydia Spalding closed the game out with 2.1 solid innings of work, striking out one with no walks and a single earned run allowed.
PSU started the game out on the right foot, with Brunson booking a disciplined plate appearance and drawing the Nittany Lions' first walk of the day. After stealing second base, Brunson was eventually thrown out on her way to third in the aftermath of Morrison's first single of the evening. With no score on the board, Volpe answered in the home half of the first with a pair of impressive strikeouts, keeping the game level early on. The next two innings passed without incident, but the Bears were able to find some rhythm in the bottom of the fourth, plating a trio of runners.
Searching for a response, PSU returned to work at the plate in the top of the fifth frame. After a pair of Nittany Lion outs opened the inning, Brunson started a two-out rally for the Blue & White by cranking the first pitch of her at-bat to left-center for a double. After junior left fielder Maddie Gordon reached on a throwing error by Baylor, and Brunson moved to third, Morrison recorded a crucial RBI single up the middle to bring PSU's only run of the contest home. The Bears replied with an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth, ultimately closing out Wednesday night's 4-1 affair.
TOP NITTANY LION PERFORMERS
Kaitlyn Morrison | 2-for-3, RBI
Haylie Brunson | 1-for-3, R, 2B, BB, SB
Lydia Spalding | 2.1 IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 1K, 29TP
KEY INNINGS
B4 | Shaylon Govan booked a leadoff single to third base, and after a pair of quick popups by the Baylor offense, Ana Watson sparked a two-out rally with a hit-by-pitch that moved Govan to second. Abi Flores walked in the next plate appearance to load the bases, and another HBP brought a run in. Presleigh Pilon reached on a fielding error that plated Watson, and Taylor Strain booked an RBI single to the pitcher to score Flores. BU 3, PSU 0
T5 | After a pair of Nittany Lion outs to open the inning, Brunson started a two-out rally for the Blue & White by cranking the first pitch of her at-bat to left-center for a double. After Gordon reached on a throwing error by Baylor and Brunson advanced to third, Morrison recorded a crucial RBI single up the middle to bring PSU's only run of the contest home. BU 3, PSU 1
B5 | Govan tallied a leadoff single down the left field line and advanced to second after Sydney Collazos drew an HBP. Shannon Vivoda executed a sac bunt to advance the runners, and after a Baylor flyout, Flores singled to center to bring Govan home. BU 4, PSU 1
UP NEXT
Penn State softball enters the final stretch of its 2024 spring break trip, as the Nittany Lions close out their slate in the Lone Star State with a three-game series against the Texas State Bobcats on the road in San Marcos. Action begins at Bobcat Softball Stadium on Thursday night, March 7, with first pitch slated for 7 p.m. (ET). The game will be streamed live to a worldwide audience of authenticated subscribers via ESPN+.
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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.
