It may have been a week away from classes, but spring break was anything but a break for the Penn State softball team.
The Nittany Lions went 3-8 on the week after dropping their final game of the Under Amour Showcase in Clearwater, Fla. on Sunday. The Lions will now have a four-day break after playing 11 games in a nine day span.
Head coach Robin Petrini said she isn't discouraged.
"I think we played some good teams," Petrini said. "We scored runs but just came up short.
The Lions fell, 4-3, in extra innings to South Carolina, despite six scoreless innings from freshman pitcher Macy Jones. With the loss, Jones now has a 5-5 record on the season.
Petrini said Jones has been a great contributor on offense and defense this season.
After going down by three runs in the top of the first inning, the Lions responded with two runs in the bottom of the third before senior Cassidy Bell hit her tenth home run of the season in the fifth to tie it.
"Every time Cassidy steps to the plate, she gives us a chance to score runs," Petrini said.
Penn State had a chance to win the game in the seventh after two singles from Alyssa Renwick and Lexi Knief. The Gamecocks intentionally walked Bell for the second time during the game to load the bases. However, the Lions were unable to drive in the winning run.
The Gamecocks scored the go ahead run in top of the eighth and retired the Lions in order in the bottom half to secure the victory.
The Lions now hold a 6-12 record and will travel to Fullerton, Calif. for the Judi Garman Classic for five games against five different opponents – Arizona, Texas, Washington, DePaul, and Oklahoma next weekend.
Collegian staff writer Derek Moreno contributed to this report.
