Northwestern snaps Penn State’s BigTen win streak with series sweep

Northwestern’s Marina Mason is pictured on the mound while Penn State’s Jordan George attempts an at bat. Photo: Carter Joseph Brooks

Northwestern’s bats exploded at the plate in Happy Valley over the weekend effectively ending Penn State softball’s winning streak.

The Wildcats improved to 20-19 overall after the three-game sweep and 8-7 in the BigTen. Penn State fell to a 26-15 record overall, with a conference record of 7-8.

The Nittany Lions host Bucknell today at 6 p.m.

Penn State was cooled off after winning six straight BigTen games by a Northwestern team that had lost three straight entering the weekend’s competition. 

The Wildcats dominated in enemy territory, with the closest game being a six-run Penn State loss.

Northwestern’s Marina Mason held Penn State in check for most of game one. She pitched six innings, giving up just two runs, while striking out 10 batters.

Two home runs for Northwestern were the real difference makers, as Kaylie Avvisato and Emma Raye had a pair of three-run shots. 

Natalie Lieto would get her team on the board in the fifth with a solo shot, but Northwestern would quickly snuff out any more life Penn State could muster. 

Northwestern would score a combined 30 runs over the final two games of the weekend.

A 13-4 final score in game two was reached in a very unorthodox fashion.

Northwestern scored two-plus runs in all five innings of play, with only one extra-base hit. Izzy Cunnea, who had the team’s lone double, led her squad with three RBIs on the day.

On the Penn State side, not a single run was scored with a hit. Michela Barbanente had an RBI for a fielder’s choice, while Bridget Nemeth, Allison Oneacre, and Gabby Gradishar all walked with the bases loaded. 

Penn State led game three 1-0 through three innings thanks to a Breanna Hanik RBI double, before Northwestern’s offense came alive. The team scored 17 runs over the game’s final three innings.

Kansas Robinson, Raye, and Avvisato all homered in the game, combining for 10 RBIs. Avvisato ended the game with four hits, two of them being long-balls. 

Mason and Renae Cunningham repeated their game one performance, holding Penn State to a total of three runs while striking out six. 

Penn State is home today Bucknell and then the Nittany Lions travel to rival Ohio State for a three-game series.

Northwestern has a road game against Notre Dame on Wednesday, before returning home against Michigan St.

Thank you for reading Female Athlete News. Carter Joseph Brooks is a student-intern at Penn State University.