Box Score STATE COLLEGE, Pa. –
Martina Gutierrez hit a three-run home run to put the Fairfield University softball team in front of Penn State University before the Nittany Lions rallied to take a 9-7 decision over the Stags.
Fairfield held the lead twice in this game, starting with a run in the team's first at-bat. After the first two hitters were retired,
Anna Paravati drew a walk to set up the rally.
Faith Camilleri followed the base on balls with a double to left center field that brought Camilleri home to spot Fairfield a 1-0 lead.
The Nittany Lions gained the lead in the bottom of the second inning when the Maddie Gordon and Natalie Lieto led off the frame with back-to-back home runs. After the next two hitters were retired, the home team paired a double and a single to push the home the team's third run of the inning.
The Stags came back to take the lead for the second time in the game when they returned to the batter's box in the third inning. With two outs and a runner on first, Ava Aramuth gained an infield single to put runners on first and third. Martina Guitierrez sent a pitch over the left field wall to bring both teammates home and give the lead back to Fairfield at 4-3. The rally continued when
Christina Minor doubled, went to third on a wild pitch, and crossed the plate on a misplayed grounder to run the lead to 5-3.
Penn State collected four runs of its own in the bottom half of the inning, piecing together three hits including a two-run home run that sent the home team back in front at 7-5. The Nittany Lions doubled that advantage with two more runs in the sixth inning off a two-run double by Haylie Brunson.
Fairfield tried to come back one more time in the game, collecting two more runs off a double from Minor but could not manage to plate any more runs before the third out was recorded.
Minor and
Delaney Whieldon each posted a pair of hits in the game, four of the Stags nine hits in the game.
Fairfield will return to the diamond on Tuesday when the team plays its first Nutmeg State game against Central Connecticut State University. First pitch is slated for 1 pm. The Stags return to the road later in the week with a four-game set at the Charleston Southern University Round Robin along with UNC Greensboro and the host school.
