Big inning lifts Penn State softball past Iowa

After spotting Iowa an early lead, the Penn State softball team used an eight-run fifth inning to drop the Hawkeyes 8-3 Friday night.

Lexi Knief was 3 for 4 with a pair of RBIs to pace the 11-hit attack of the Nittany Lions (25-17, 12-3 Big Ten), who have won six straight and 15 of 18. Marlaina Laubach (10-8) pitched a complete-game win, striking out three, walking four and scattering 11 hits.

Whitney Repole cracked a two-run home run in the second inning to stake the Hawkeyes (12-31) to an early lead. The Hawkeyes left 10 runners on base.

A nine-hit Penn State attack highlighted the eight-run fifth, with RBI singles for Erin Pond, Kristina Brackpool, Reina Furuya and Macy Jones. Good was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, another run scored on a fielder’s choice and Knief capped the frame with a two-run single.

The teams meet again at 3 p.m. Saturday.

This story was originally published April 23, 2016 at 12:24 AM with the headline "Big inning lifts Penn State softball past Iowa."