CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Penn State split a pair of games Sunday, beating Iowa State 9-8 in eight innings before falling 10-2 to North Carolina at the Carolina Classic.
The Nittany Lions rallied from a four-run deficit with five runs over the final three innings to beat the Cyclones. Alyssa Renwick’s sacrifice fly to score Lauren Yao plated the game winner. Macy Jones earned the win, tossing 6 2/3 innings of relief.
Cassidy Bell paced the offense with two home runs and six RBIs, including a third-inning grand slam. Bell has five homers this season.
Lexi Knief was 3-for-4 to pace the Nittany Lions’ 14-hit day. Renwick and Karlie Habitz each had a pair of hits.
Kailyn Johnson belted a solo home run while Habitz, Jones and Alyssa Sovereign each doubled for the Nittany Lions (3-4) in the loss to North Carolina. Christy Von Pusch pitched the first 2 1/3 innings and took the loss as the Tar Heels scred five runs in the third inning.
Rain wiped out Penn State’s two scheduled games for Saturday at the tournament. The Nittany Lions are back on the field in Kissimmee, Fla., on Saturday for the Citrus Classic.
