Penn State softball (20-21, 6-7 Big Ten) lost to Pitt (15-26, 4-14 ACC) 16-8 at home Tuesday during The Battle of the Keystone State.

After dropping their weekend series against Ohio State, the Nittany Lions hoped to build off of good offensive output but struggled in the field and on the mound, giving up double-digit runs for the third time in four games.

How It Happened

Abigail Britton got the start in the circle for Penn State, working to deliver another strong performance on the mound. Britton found herself in early trouble yet again, walking Pitt’s Kylie Griggs and Kaitlyn Brannstrom to start the game.

After a short rain delay, Penn State took the field to resume the top of the first inning.

Griggs and Brannstrom pulled off the double-steal, putting two runners in scoring position. Vaughn stepped into the plate and took Britton deep to center field, hitting a home run to give Pitt an early 3-0 lead. Murphy struck out looking, but Ana Hernandez singled through the left side to put Pitt back in business.

Desire Martinez flew out to center field, and Amanda Ramirez stepped up to the plate. Hernandez advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on the next pitch for the same reason. Ramirez battled to a full count and ultimately drew the walk. KK Esparza stepped up to the plate with two outs and runners on the corners but didn’t deliver for the Panthers as Britton struck her out swinging.

Natalie Lieto led off for the Nittany Lions, blooping a single over the shortstop’s head. Haylie Brunson popped out in foul to record the first out for Penn State. With Lieto on first, Brooke Klosowicz hit a ball straight into the air, which was caught by the third baseman.

Maddie Gordon hit a ball to right center, which was dropped by the right fielder. Lieto came around to score on the miscue, and Gordon ended up at second base. Meagan Ricks stepped up to the plate and delivered with an RBI double off the center field wall, scoring Gordon.

Got a PAIR back
Huge RBI double from Ricky highlights a two-run inning.

E1 | PITT 3, PSU 2#WeAre | #NextStop pic.twitter.com/ThgqhoVLp2

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

Michela Barbanente hoped to deliver for Penn State at the plate, but Kyra Pittman got her to pop up to the left side of the infield, ending the inning. The Panthers led 3-2 after one inning.

After Britton’s three-run first inning, Mady Volpe was given the ball to start the second. Ahmari Braden led off the inning for the Pathers and went down looking on four pitches. Griggs drew a walk, and Brannstrom stepped up to the plate for her second at-bat in as many innings.

Griggs advanced to second on a wild pitch, but Volpe got Brannstrom to go down on strikes. Vaughn, who hit a home run in her first at-bat, lined out to center field to end the inning.

Madison Seidel was up first for Penn State, lining out the left fielder. Jenna Nelson drew a walk, and Kaylie Walters recorded a bunt single to put runners on first and second for the Nittany Lions. Lieto laid a bunt down the first base line, scoring Nelson, and talling her second hit on the day.

Brunson singled to right center, driving in Walter’s and taking a 4-3 lead. Klosowicz stepped in the batter’s box with two runners on base, delivering with a three-run home run to left center to extend the Nittany Lion lead to 7-3.

BROOKIE'S COOKIN' YET AGAIN!!
Another dinger for our sophomore slugger

B2 | PSU 7, PITT 3#WeAre | #NextStop pic.twitter.com/VEsIhFdci9

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

Brown replaced Pittman on the mound and hit Gordon on her first pitch of the game. Ricks dropped a bunt single down the third base line for a single and her second hit, pushing Gordon into scoring position. Barbanente hoped to add to the Penn State lead, but before she could, Ricks and Gordon pulled off a double steal.

After the steals, Barbanente singled through the right side, scoring Gordon. Seidel looked to drive in the runner at third but grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning instead.

Murphy doubled down the left field line to get the top of the third inning underway. Hernandez reached on a fielding error, and then both runners advanced into scoring position after Martinez grounded out back to Volpe.

Ramirez singled, scoring Murphy, and then Esparza followed that up by hitting a two-run home run over the left field wall. After Braden grounded out to shortstop, Griggs reached on a throwing error by Volpe, advancing all the way to third base. Griggs scored on a pass ball, and Brannstrom took Volpe’s pitch deep for a home run, giving Pitt a 9-8 lead. Vaughn struck out to end the inning, but the damage had already been done.

Nelson flew out to right field, recording the first out for Penn State. Walters singled through the right side for her second knock, and Lieto drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Penn State had runners on the corners after Brunson hit a ground ball to second base for the 4-6 fielders choice. Threatening to score, Klosowicz put the ball in play, but it was handled by the shortstop to end the inning.

Jiselle Hernandez came into pitch for Volpe in the fourth inning, getting Murphy to ground out to third base. Hernandez struck out swinging to record the second out, but Martinez walked on four pitches to extend the inning. Shelby Frazier singled to put two runners on, but Hernandez got Esparza to ground out to end the top of the fourth.

PFP

M4 | PITT 9, PSU 8#WeAre | #NextStop pic.twitter.com/bUSf3Od5Ms

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

Gordon started the bottom of the fourth with her second single of the game, and Ricks reached on a fielding error at second base. With runners on first and second base with no outs, Barbanente dropped a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third base.

Seidel lined out to right field, and Nelson lined out to shortstop, leaving two runners in scoring position on base. Penn State trailed 9-8 after four innings of play.

Braden started the inning off with a single through the right side, and Griggs popped one up behind the plate for the first out. Braden stole second base, then Brannstrom flied out to right field, advancing Braden to third base. Vaughn singled and advanced to second on a throwing error, also scoring Braden on the play.

Murphy cracked one over the right field wall, extending Pitt’s lead to 12-8. Hernandez walked Hernandez, ending her day on the mound and being replaced by Lydia Spalding.

Martinez was walked on four pitches, putting runners on first and second base. Frazier got ready in the box and drove one out of the park to add three insurance runs for Pitt. Esparza was hit by a pitch to extend the inning for Pitt, and Braden reached base for the second time in the inning by drawing a walk. Griggs walked to load the bases, putting the Nittany Lions in serious trouble.

With the base loaded, Brittion came back into pitch and struck out Brannstrom on three pitches. Penn State trailed 15-8 midway through five innings.

Kendall Duck came into pitch in the fifth and delivered a 1-2-3 inning for the Panthers.

A walk for Vaughn started the inning for Pitt, and she advanced on a sacrifice bunt laid down by Murphy. Vaughn advanced to third base on a wild pitch and was driven in on a groundout to shortstop. Martinez struck out to end the inning, but Pitt held an eight-run lead midway through six innings.

Penn State threatened to put up some runs in the sixth inning. Klosowicz walked to start the inning, and after Gordon and Ricks struck out, Klosowicz advanced to second on a pass ball. Lydia Coleman pinch-hit for Barbanente and drew a walk on five pitches.

With runners on first and second, Seidel stepped up to the plate with a chance to bring the Nittany Lions back into the game. After loading the count, Duck got Seidel to fly out to right field, ending the game and securing Pitt’s first win against Penn State since the 2019 season.

Takeaways

• The Panthers’ six home runs were responsible for 12 of their 16 runs, outscoring the Nittany Lions with the long ball alone.
• Pitt capitalized on multiple third inning errors by the Penn State defense, allowing three unearned runs to cross the plate.
• Spaulding needed to get one batter out, but instead walked three batters, gave up a home run, and hit a batter without recording an out. This proved to be the turning point, as Penn State couldn’t close the seven-run deficit.

What’s Next?

Penn State will head on the road this weekend for a three-game series against Iowa. The first game is at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 19, and can be streamed on BTN+.