Penn State softball (19-18, 5-5 Big Ten) defeated Saint Francis (14-21, 7-5 Northeast Conference) 15-3 at home Wednesday during Cancer Awareness Night.

Coming off four straight wins, the Nittany Lions wasted no time generating offense. The team batted around in the first inning, including five hits and nine runs. After letting a run cross the plate early in the first inning, Mady Volpe, Jiselle Herandez, and Abigail Britton were lights out for Penn State, throwing multiple 1-2-3 innings..

How It Happened

Volpe was given the start in the circle and gave up a single through the ride side of the bat of Savannah Nash to get the game underway. AB Cipalla dropped a sacrifice bunt to put the runner in scoring position, and Saint Francis capitalized one out later.

Olivia Ulam doubled to center to score Nash, giving the Red Flash a first-inning lead. Volpe got Sofia Zielinski to fly out to end the inning.

Madelynn Bates got the call to pitch for the Red Flash and started the game by walking Meagan Ricks and Kaylie Walters. Both advanced on a passed ball, putting two runners in scoring position with no outs.

Haylie Brunson reached on a fielding error, plating Ricks and advancing Walters to third. Brunson stole second, and then Brooke Klosowicz doubled, clearing the bases. Maddie Gordon singled but advanced to second on a throwing error, putting Klosowiczs on third.

Michela Barbanente singled and advanced on a throwing error, plating two more runs. Penn State led 5-1 without recording a single out. Barbanente stole third, Natalie Lieto walked and then stole second, and Madison Siedel grounded out but still drove in a run.

Jenna Nelson hit a two-run homer to left field out of the nine-spot, and then Ricks dropped a bunt down the third base line for a hit. Walters walked on five pitches, Brunson reached first on a fielder’s choice where everyone ended up being safe, and Klosowicz drove in the ninth run of the inning on a fielder’s choice. Gordon struck out to end the inning.

OK JENNA NELSON. TWO-RUN BOMBBB

B1 | 1 OUT | PSU 8, SFU 1#WeAre | #NextStop pic.twitter.com/hqPTIvBvtx

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) April 9, 2025

Volpe went 1-2-3 in the second, first getting Aliya Garroway to pop out, then getting Olivia Kolowitz to ground out to short, and finally fanning Zoey Nussbaum on four pitches to retire the side.

Kolowitz took the mound in the second for the Red Flash. Barbanente grounded out to third to start the inning, but Lieto singled to second base, putting a runner on for the Nittany Lions. Seidel homered to right center, extending the lead to double digits.

the doctor will see you now…
TWO-RUN DINGER FOR MADDIE SEIDEL

B2 | 1 OUT | PSU 11, SFU 1#WeAre | #NextStop pic.twitter.com/DGEnrZpikw

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) April 9, 2025

Nelson singled to center field, Ricks grounded out, and Walters struck out looking. Penn State led 11-1 after two innings.

Jiselle Hernandez came in to pitch in the third inning for Penn State. Much like the second, Hernandez retired the side in order. Hannah Bendle flew out to center, Nash lined out back to Hernandez, and Cipalla grounded out to end the inning.

BABY J MAKIN PLAYSSSS

M3 | PSU 11, SFU 1#WeAre | #NextStop pic.twitter.com/hVdEuitDxH

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) April 9, 2025

Brunson struck out swinging to start the bottom of the third, and Klosowicz flew out to center for the second out of the third. Gordon singled to left field, Barbanente walked, and then both runners advanced on a passed ball.

Lieto singled, scoring Gordon and advancing Barbanente to third base. Lieto stole second to put two runners in scoring position, but it didn’t matter because Seidel cleared the bases for the second time in three innings, homering to right field and extending the Nittany Lion lead to 15-1. Nelson flew out to center field to end the inning.

MADISON SEIDEL!! MULTI-HOMER GAME

E3 | PSU 15, SFU 1#WeAre | #NextStop pic.twitter.com/W2a66QkTNB

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) April 9, 2025

Hernandez got Addie Smith to fly out to kick off the fourth inning. Ulam singled to left field, and Zielinsky reached safely on a fielding error.

Garroway popped up to second base for the second out of the inning, but before Hernandez could put the Red Storm away, Kolowitz doubled to left field, driving in two runs. Nussbaum struck out to end the top half of the fourth, and Penn State led 15-3.

Penn State went down in order in the bottom of the fourth. Jordan George came in to pinch hit for Ricks but grounded out to second base. Walters flew out to left field for the second out of the inning, and Brunson popped out to first base for the third out.

Britton came in to pitch for Hernandez in the fifth. Bendle grounded out to first base, and Nash flew out to center field. Cipalla walked to keep the game alive for Saint Francis, followed by Smith getting hit. With runners on first and second base, Ulam struck out looking, ending the game due to mercy rules.

Takeaways

• Penn State laid down the hammer early and never looked back. They capitalized on fielding errors and walks, taking advantage of any and all mistakes made by the Red Storm.
• Penn State was dominant on the mound and in the field, only giving up four hits.
• Seidel’s two home run game out of the eight-spot in the lineup delivered five key RBI for Penn State.

What’s Next?

Penn State will return to Beard Field this weekend for a three-game series against No. 22 Ohio State. The first game is at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 11, and can be streamed on BTN+.