Penn State softball (27-6) faced off against Bucknell (12-16) for a midweek duel on Tuesday.

The Nittany Lions rocked the throwback black-and-pink uniforms against the Bison on Throwback Tuesday, and the win was highlighted by a grand slam from catcher Gaby Garcia in the second inning, marking the first of the season for Penn State.

How It Happened

Paige Maynard earned the start in the circle for the Nittany Lions. Despite an opening single for the Bison, Maynard settled in and got out of the inning with no runs scored. Emily Maddock sparked the offense in the bottom of the first with a single to the right side, and Gaby Garcia walked to put runners on first and second base.

Next, Liana Jones popped out to second base. Haylie Brunson kept the momentum up with another walk to load the bases with two outs. A wild pitch allowed Maddock to score, but Jiselle Hernandez struck out to end the inning.

The defense solidified another stop in the second inning after a hit to start the inning. Maynard forced two popups and concluded the top of the second inning with a strikeout.

Penn State got the bats going in the latter half of the inning which was started by a lead-off hit from Gianna Poletti. Jenna Nelson struck out during the next at-bat, but Michela Barbanente picked her up with a walk to put runners on first and second.

Gordon brought the top of the lineup back with a groundout which forced Poletti out at third, but Maddock walked to keep the inning alive and load the bases. The payoff finally came when Garcia smashed the first grand slam of the season for Penn State to make it 5-0.

GABY. GARCIA. LAUNCHES Penn State's first grand slam of the year, off the scoreboard!

B2 | 2 OUTS | PSU 5, BUCK 0#WeAre pic.twitter.com/Juqyj0FRq5

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) March 26, 2024

Head coach Clarisa Crowell then opted for a change in the circle with Mady Volpe. Volpe entered and immediately recorded a strikeout. Although there was an error at third base and another Bison hit a single, Volpe ended the side with two more strikeouts.

In the bottom of the third, Poletti had another hard-hit ball which caused an error at third. This was followed by a single up the middle from Nelson to put runners on second and third, but no Nittany Lions could find a hit to bring them home.

Volpe kept her dominance going in the fourth inning with a popout to left field and back-to-back strikeouts to retire Bucknell. Penn State tried to revive the offense again in the bottom of the inning with singles from Maddock and Jones, but runners were stranded on first and second.

The Bison found their first runs of the game in the top of the fifth. Bucknell started with back-to-back singles, capitalized by a ball off the wall in left-center from Zoie Smith that scored the first run. Another run came across the plate with a fourth single from Brooke Popella to make it 5-2.

Penn State then subbed Bridget Nemeth in for Volpe, and the all-star freshman forced two groundouts to end the side.

The Penn State freshman brought the offense back in the fifth when Poletti doubled to left field. Nelson then popped up a bunt for the first out, but Barbanente picked her up with another double to score Poletti and up the score 6-2.

Barbanente showed off her wheels with a straight steal to third and scored on the next pitch after a sacrifice fly from Gordon. Maddock also restarted the offense with a single and scored off of a double from Garcia. Garcia then made it to third on a bad throw home.

Next, Jones found a gap in the infield and beat out a throw to first to allow Garcia to score. Brunson grounded out, but Penn State led 9-2 after five innings.

SWEET RBI DOUBLE by Gabby Garcia!

E5 | PSU 9, BUCK 2#WeAre pic.twitter.com/X1K2v6K1wi

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) March 26, 2024

Nemeth reentered the circle and started the sixth inning with a strikeout. She continued to overpower the Bison with two more straight outs.

Hernandez flew out in the first at-bat of the sixth, but substitute Amanda Mack came into the lineup and blasted a single to right-center. Nelson also singled to put runners on first and second. Barbanente caused chaos when a shallow fly ball was dropped and loaded the bases.

A sacrifice fly from Gordon then scored the final run, and Penn State secured the 10-2 mercy-rule win.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions will start their second Big Ten series of the season against Maryland at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 29, at Beard Field.