Penn State drops Game 2 of the series in Wisconsin in five innings of play after a mercy rule

MADISON, Wis. - A complete turnaround for Penn State after its 3-1 victory in the first of a three-game series against the Wisconsin Badgers as the Nittany Lions fell to the mercy rule in Game 2 by a score of 17-3.

It was all Wisconsin in the Game 2 matchup, who came into this one with a 16-25 record overall and sat at a 5-10 record in Big Ten play this season.

After Bridget Nemeth earned her 19th win on the season in complete game performance, Mady Volpe was in the circle to start Game 2.

In her first two innings of work, Volpe gave up four earned runs on three hits. She was then replaced by Lydia Spalding in the third when the Badgers broke the game open by scoring four more runs.

Paige Maynard made her 19th appearance on the season but only managed to pitch through a third of an inning as Wisconsin plated nine runs on six hits in the bottom of the fourth.

Overall, it was a rough day for Penn State’s trio of pitchers, who gave up a combined 17 runs on 13 hits in four innings of work.

Wisconsin’s senior infielder, Skylar Sirdashney had quite the day at the plate against the Penn State pitching staff. She went 2-2 with a pair of home runs, both of which came in the fourth, and had seven RBI.

The Badgers’ leader in batting average, Ava Kuszak, went 3-4 at the plate with a home run, her seventh of the season and five RBI.

Penn State’s defense also committed a pair of errors on the day, one of which by Emily Maddock at third in the 10-run fourth inning led to an unearned run on Maynard.

The Nittany Lions’ bats went cold in Game 2, only managing five hits across five innings at the plate.

The hero in Game 1, catcher Gaby Garcia, struck again in Game 2 with her second home run of the series and her ninth on the season. Garcia’s nine home runs ties Maddie Gordon for the most home runs for Penn State.

Freshman shortstop Jiselle Hernandez also hit a home run, her first collegiate home run and her fifth RBI of the season.

While Game 2 of the series saw the second mercy rule in five days for Penn State, they will look to win the series back in Madison at 2 p.m. for the rubber match.

Caitlyn Brooks is a first-year majoring in digital and print journalism. To contact her, email crb6283@psu.edu.