Penn State Softball needs extra innings to defeat Saint Francis in weekday battle

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For the second time in 2024, the Red Flash met the Nittany Lions with a spark. This time at Beard Field and two months later, the result was in Penn State’s favor once again.

A pitching duel between Bridget Nemeth and Grace Vesco delivered an extra innings showdown resulting in a 3-2 Saint Francis defeat.

“That was a crazy game,” Clarisa Crowell said. “That’s a big non-conference win and we always talk about winning PA and we were able to do that.”

In the bottom of the second, Penn State found a spark when Vesco mishandled Emily Maddock’s bunt forcing a first and second Penn State threat with no outs. Jiselle Hernandez followed suit, sending hers down the third base line putting the Nittany Lions on the board.

Vesco reached 40 pitches by the time the inning finished and the Red Flash turned to their offense in search of an equalizer, but Saint Francis kept leaving runners stranded.

The field lights started brightening above Beard Field and Vesco worked a one-two-three bounce-back inning as Happy Valley experienced a weather shift with winds intensifying and raindrops periodically falling.

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Madelyn Wilson reached second on a fielder’s choice. The game was nearly tied after Hernandez bobbled the next batter’s pop-up but Wilson was tagged out at home.

In the top of the fifth, the Red Flash tried building on their momentum by getting the bases loaded with no outs. Crowell met with the team in the circle as Nemeth faced the Saint Francis lineup for the third time.

“I just told her, hey, we got to stay the course and stay with it,” Crowell said.

Even as a freshman, Nemeth stayed poised under pressure by working through the next three Red Flash without allowing anyone to reach home.

“Her composure level is elite,” Crowell said. “I think she has a gift honestly because it’s something you don’t see in a lot of freshmen, a lot of times you need that experience to step up in big moments — she’s a tough kid.”

After going 0-2, Kaitlyn Morrison pulled one deep to right field, just over the head of Lauren Aubry for a triple in the bottom of the fifth. It didn’t take long for her to get home with a short-distance bunt from Liana Jones, Morrison’s speed beat out the tag.

“We like to keep it simple,” Morrison said. “When maybe the bats aren’t working, we’re going to rely on our short game because we’ve practiced that as much as we practice our swing.”

Lexi Hernandez tried to mount a Saint Francis comeback with a lead-off single up the middle. Wilson made good contact on Nemeth’s delivery but Jiselle Hernandez completed the double play connecting with Gianna Poletti at first.

The next two batters walked, prompting another meeting with Crowell and Gaby Garcia before Ashley Orischak’s at-bat and eventual out.

The Red Flash kept the Nittany Lions at bay in the sixth inning keeping the deficit at two before their final chances with the top of the lineup due up.

Mady Volpe came in to record what was expected to be the final three outs. However, with two outs Saint Francis gained some hope with runners on first and second, and Lexi Hernandez brought them home with a double to center, tying the game.

In the bottom of the seventh, Penn State had the opportunity to put the game away with more bunting success, but it couldn’t capitalize on having the bases loaded with initially no outs.

Extra innings kept this game going as night settled in at Beard Field. Dominance in the circle prompted the ninth as Nemeth and Vesco continued to duel even with runners automatically starting on second.

A Penn State sac bunt heated things up as Jiselle Hernandez advanced to third as Poletti reached second on a fielder’s choice. The Nittany Lions were assessed with a delay on batter penalty and Crowell vocally disapproved of the call with the third base umpire.

After the heated exchange, she walked back toward her dugout saying, “Hey win this thing, let’s go.”

“I think it’s an underrated honor to have a coach that’s just gonna go out there and fight for you,” Morrison said.

Saint Francis called the grounds crew out for maintenance. However, not long after action resumed, Michela Barbanente walked and Hernandez reached home on a wild pitch extinguishing the Red Flash’s hopes of defeating their in-state rival.

Up next, Michigan comes to Happy Valley on Friday for the last home series of the regular season.

Amanda Vogt is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email amandaevogt@gmail.com