BTN.com staff, May 6, 2012
All 12 Big Ten softball teams are in action Sunday with a number of games airing live on the Big Ten Digital Network. BTN's "B1G Diamond Report" will break down all the games on our 5 op.m. ET TV show. Click inside for links to GameTrackers or go to the national softball scoreboard for all the games.
Also, get the latest Big Ten softball standings and Big Ten softball statistics at BigTen.org.
Sunday's Games (all times ET)
Illinois 3, Penn State 2: The Penn State softball team looked for another comeback victory on Sunday at muggy Eichelberger Field, but two seventh-inning errors undermined the rally as Illinois won 3-2. Read the full recap at GoPSUsports.com.
Indiana 4, Nebraska 2: A frustrating weekend for the Nebraska softball team ended with a 4-2 loss at Indiana in the final game of the three-game series on Sunday afternoon at the IU Softball Field. The Huskers, who entered the weekend series one-half game out of first place in the Big Ten Conference standings, were swept by the Hoosiers. Nebraska, which out-hit Indiana in every game and by a 24-15 margin on the weekend, never led in the series and the Huskers trailed after all 21 innings of play. Read the full recap at Huskers.com.
Michigan at Wisconsin: Michigan softball team's game against Wisconsin has been cancelled due to rain in the area on Sunday (May 6). The game will not be made up.
Ohio State 2, Iowa 1: Ohio State scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to down the University of Iowa softball team, 2-1, Sunday afternoon at Buckeye Field. The Hawkeyes won 2-of-3 games in the series. Read the full recap on Hawkeyesports.com.
Northwestern 8, Michigan State 0: Junior Meghan Lamberth (Wildwood, Mo./Lafayette) tossed a two-hit shutout and Marisa Bast (Orange, Calif./Villa Park) gave Northwestern an immediate lead with a first-inning grand slam Sunday to lead NU to a series sweep of Michigan State with an 8-0 (5) win at Secchia Stadium. Read the full recap at NUsports.com.
Purdue 12, Minnesota : The Boilermaker bats exploded on the Minnesota softball team for 12 runs on 13 hits in the series finale with the Gophers, which also saw senior Katie Hackney strike out four batters in the winning effort. Purdue scored in 12 runs on 13 hits and two Gopher miscues, while Minnesota managed two runs on seven hits and an error in the mercy rule contest. Senior Molly Garst and junior Maia Monchek led the Boilermaker bats with three hits apiece, while junior Erika Petruzzi and Danielle Fletcher each posted two hits. Read the full recap at Purduesports.com.