Penn State softball (12-11, 0-2 Big Ten) dropped two games to Northwestern (12-9, 3-0 Big Ten) to open up its conference schedule.

Coming off a five-game winning streak, Penn State hoped to open up Big Ten play using last week’s momentum. The Nittany Lions were supposed to finish the series on Friday, but severe wind forced the two teams to play a makeup game Saturday afternoon.

Game One

Lauren Boyd got the start for Northwestern, throwing a scoreless inning for the Wildcats. Natalie Lieto grounded out the second base, followed by a Haylie Brunson single to get things started for the Nittany Lions. Lieto got Brooke Klosowicz to ground out, and after walking Maddie Gordon, Boyd struck out Megan Ricks to end the top half of the first inning.

Abigail Britton started on the bump for the Nittany Lions. After putting the first two batters away in the field, Kaylie Avvisato singled. Britton walked the next two, loading up the bases. Isabel Cunnea put the ball in play, but the Nittany Lions played the ball to second base, ending the first inning.

The Nittany Lions went down in order in the second inning, with Boyd adding two more strikeouts to her stat line. The Wildcats loaded the bases once again in the second and capitalized on an error by Britton, taking an early 1-0 lead. Britton struck out Kansas Robinson, limiting the damage to one run.

Kaylie Walters struck out to start the third inning. Lieto singled to right field and advanced to second base on Brunson’s groundout. Klosowicz doubled down the left field line, scoring Lieto and tying the game 1-1 before Gordon lined out to end the inning.

Bridget Donahey homered to open up the bottom of the third for the Wildcats. With runners on second and third, Cunnea scored on a sacrifice fly from Garden. Northwestern added one more run in the inning, coming off a fielder’s choice. The Wildcats led 4-1 after three innings.

In the fourth, Penn State threatened with a runner on third, but Boyd recovered and struck out Michela Barbanente and Madison Seidel to retire the side. Britton walked the first batter, and hit the next, putting the Nittany Lions in trouble with no outs. Rate singled to center field, scoring two more runs for the Wildcats. Riley Grudzielanek stepped up next, singling and driving in another run. Garden’s sacrifice fly scored one more, expanding their lead to 7-1 after four.

The Nittany Lions rallied in the fifth, stringing together two hits to start the inning. After a Klosowicz groundout, Gordon doubled to left, scoring Lieto. Ricks followed that up with a single of her own, driving in Brunson. This is where Boyd’s day ended for the Wildcats, handing the ball over to Renae Cunningham. Chamberlin doubled, scoring Gordon, and Ricks came around to score on the next play with some heads-up base running. Penn State cut the deficit to two at 7-5.

Your Lions are heatin' up

T5 | 1 OUT | NU 8, PSU 4#WeAre | #NextStop pic.twitter.com/Ttzchk5ON8

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) March 14, 2025

Raye doubled in the bottom half of the inning, scoring Cunnea once again. After a walk and hit-by-pitch, Nader singled to right, scoring two more runs. The Wildcats led 9-5 after five innings of play.

Brunson homered in the sixth, scoring Lieto as well. This brought the deficit back within two, and Northwestern made another pitching change. This proved to be key, as Signe Dohse in and retired the side.

Absolute HAMMER from HB

T6 | 1 OUT | NU 11, PSU 7#WeAre | #NextStop pic.twitter.com/i0ywvZav52

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) March 14, 2025

In the bottom half of the sixth, Raye would add two more runs on the board after homering to left field. After six, the Northwestern Wildcats led 11-7.

The Nittany Lions would load the bases in the seventh inning but didn’t capitalize on the opportunity, dropping the first game by a score of 11-7.

Game Two

Penn State came out hot in game two. Klosowicz drew a walk, followed by Gordon’s two-run homer to right field. Northwestern responded as Nieto singled and advanced on a sacrifice. A fielding error and wild pitch allowed a run to score, cutting Penn State’s lead to 2-1.

OPPO
LIONS 2⃣

M1 | PSU 2, NU 0#WeAre | #NextStop pic.twitter.com/OTFP997pbM

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) March 15, 2025

In the second, Chamberlin struck out, Nelson lined out, and Barbanente singled but was left stranded as Walters struck out. Northwestern took control as Raye homered to tie it. A walk and an error set up Nader’s three-run triple, followed by an Avvisato RBI single, making it 5-2.

Lieto singled, but Penn State couldn’t capitalize, grounding into a double play. Northwestern added another run when Cunnea and Raye singled, and Garden’s sacrifice fly made it 6-2 after three innings of play.

Gordon grounded out, Ricks struck out, and Chamberlin lined out as Penn State went down in order. Northwestern extended the lead as Nader singled, Avvisato homered, and Robinson followed with a solo shot, pushing the lead to 9-2.

In the fifth, Coleman singled but was left stranded as Northwestern closed the door. Nieto singled, Nader was hit by a pitch, and a passed ball moved them into scoring position. The Nittany Lions couldn’t generate anything, as the Wildcats secured the 10-2 run rule.

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions will work to bounce back as they continue Big Ten play in a two-game series against Minnesota this weekend.