Penn State doesn't get anything going in a grueling pitcher's duel

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Nittany Lions lost 2-0 against the Maryland Terrapins in a nine-inning affair at Beard Field.

Penn State snapped their nine-game win streak, and also their 16-game home win streak. The team strung together just two hits in nine innings of play.

This matchup was a complete pitcher's duel, with both Courtney Whyce and Bridget Nemeth going the full nine innings. Courtney Whyce was especially dominant in her 147 pitches, with her 19 strikeouts being an NCAA single-game high in 2024.

“Courtney Whyce is a good pitcher and we knew that coming in. Sometimes you gotta tip your hat and say you threw a great game.” coach Clarissa Crowell said regarding Whyce’s performance.

Freshman Bridget Nemeth came into the Saturday evening matchup as one of the best pitchers in all of the Big Ten, with her having the most pitching wins with 14 and the second-best ERA which currently stands at 1.16.

“Bridget did a heck of a job,” coach Crowell said.

Bridget Nemeth threw a season-high 151 pitches in her complete game, taking a shutout into the final ninth inning.

“For a freshman to be out there just battling her butt off and to hold that offensive team” Crowell later added.

Nemeth was cruising through the Terps lineup all game but gave up two singles in the 9th and eventually the go-ahead two-run double to Jaeda McFarland which the Penn State offense could not come back from.

For a Penn State team that averaged just over eight runs per game in their win streak leading into this game, their two-hit zero-run performance seemed like an unlikely outcome.

“The message is simple: We’re going to find ways to get better and we’re gonna look at some film and be better tomorrow,” Crowell said about the lackluster Nittany Lions offense.

The blue and white simply never got anything going this game, with their one runner in scoring position in the first inning being the only one they would have all game.

“That’s one game. That’s not indicative of what our offense is and I’m confident we will bounce back tomorrow,” Crowell said.

While the Penn State offense was the story of the game, the defense wasn’t necessarily spectacular itself. Their two errors outnumbered the Terps, who didn’t commit one all game.

This was a game where it felt like Penn State came back to earth after enjoying an extensive high-scoring winning streak. This team has all of the offensive talent it needs to win games, with six of their nine starters having at least a .284 batting average.

Their offensive production this season doesn’t warrant another shutout, and they will look to come into tomorrow’s mid-day matchup hungry.

Will Harrison is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email wbh5205@psu.edu