Penn State softball (25-26, 11-12 Big Ten) handled Iowa (35-18, 15-8 Big Ten) 6-2 in West Lafayette on Wednesday afternoon to open its Big Ten Tournament run.

Coming off an 8-0 loss to Washington on Sunday, the Nittany Lions wasted no time getting the bats working, delivering with two early home runs off the bats of Michela Barbanente and Meagan Ricks, and extra-base hits from several other Nittany Lions.

How It Happened

Jalen Adams got the start in the circle for Iowa, first getting Ricks to go down swinging on four pitches. Haylie Brunson stepped in the batter’s box and lined out to second base, followed by Brooke Klosowicz, who popped one up in the infield to end the top of the first.

Mady Volpe stepped into the circle for Penn State, hoping to deliver another strong performance after coming into to close out Senior Day. Jenna Young walked after loading the count full, but Volpe retired the next two batters via fielding plays.

Hannah Lindsay was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second with two outs. In an early jam, Vople got Soo-Jin Berry to strike out and end the inning.

Maddie Gordon walked to get the second inning started, and Barbanente just barely powered a homer over the left-center field fence to give Penn State its first lead of the game.

BYE BALLLLLLL
LIONS LEAD EARLY

T2 | 0 OUTS | PSU 2, IOWA 0#WeAre | #NextStop pic.twitter.com/TsL7HGWCvv

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) May 7, 2025

Natalie Lieto and Madison Seidel would put the ball in play but were retired by the Iowa defense. Jena Nelson drew a full count but went down swinging to wrap up the frame.

Volpe retired Talia Tretton via the strikeout to get things started in the bottom half of the second. Devin Simon grounded out to shortstop, and Avery Jackson lined out to third base to go down 1-2-3 in the inning.

Kaylie Walters grounded out to second base to kick off the third inning. Ricks stepped up to the plate and decided she wanted in on the home run party, sending her eighth bomb of the year over the right-center field wall.

that one's going back… STILL going back… STILL GOING BACK. IT'S GONE. THREE RUN LEAD.

T3 | 1 OUT | PSU 3, IOWA 0#WeAre | #NextStop pic.twitter.com/g3ad61q1wy

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) May 7, 2025

Brunson and Klosowicz put the ball in play, but couldn’t get anything going following the home run. Penn State led 3-0 heading into the bottom half of the third inning.

Facing the last hitter to start the inning, Volpe got Tatianna Roman to foul out to left field for the first out of the third. Young struck out swinging after seeing a full count, but Tory Bennett reached first via a walk. Rivera singled to put two runners on, but Volpe focused in on Lindsay and struck her out looking to pack up the third with no damage done.

The Nittany Lions strung together two hits in the fourth inning off the bats of Lieto and Seidel, but couldn’t generate any further offense.

Volpe walked Berry to start the bottom half of the fourth. After advancing to second on a wild pitch, Simon roped a double to left center, driving in the Hawkeyes’ first run of the game. After a walk on four pitches, Vope was replaced by Abigail Britton on the mound to record the last out of the inning.

Walters doubled to get the bats started in the fifth inning. Ricks advanced to first while Walters made her way to third on a fielder’s choice. Ricks stole second to put both runners in scoring position, and Klosowicz drove in two runs with a clutch RBI single to left field.

TWO MORE ON THE BOARD! Brookie laces one down the line!

T5 | 1 OUT | PSU 5, IOWA 1#WeAre | #NextStop pic.twitter.com/SDDvP2Verr

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) May 7, 2025

Klosowicz advanced to second on a groundout, and Banbanente hit a ball that went by the left fielder and rolled all the way to the wall for a triple, scoring Klosowicz.

BARBANENTE RIBBIE TIME!!! UP BY

M5 | PSU 6, IOWA 1#WeAre | #NextStop pic.twitter.com/iSm2OvkF6P

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) May 7, 2025

Lieto struck out for the third out, but damage was done. Penn State led 6-1 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning.

Rivera doubled to left center with one out in the fifth, and after Lindsay grounded out to shortstop, Berry drove in the pinch runner, Arlette Caravaca. Tretton flew out to center field, and Penn State closed the inning with a four-run lead.

Penn State threatened to score in the sixth with runners on the corners, but Ricks was thrown out trying to steal second, stranding Seidel on third base.

Simons walked to get things going in the bottom half of the inning, but after Ramos lined out to left field, the pinch hitter Jaylee Ojo hit into a double play, ending the inning.

Heading into the last frame, Brunson kicked it off with a single to left center. Klosowicz doubled, and Penn State was in a familiar spot with two runners in scoring position. Gordon singled to third, but no runners advanced. With no outs and the bases loaded, Tretton retired three straight Nittany Lions to keep Iowa within reach.

Young popped up to left field for the first out of the seventh inning. Bennett singled to left field, but that was the only positive for Iowa in the inning. Britton would record the final two outs, and Penn State secured the 6-2 victory.

Takeaways

• Volpe and Britton both posted great outings, leaving Iowa’s hitting going 5-for-25 on the day and combining for five strikeouts.
• Penn State delivered with runners in scoring position, playing four out of 11 possible runners that reached second base.
• Home runs from Barbanente and Ricks pushed Penn State out in front early, and they held the lead from the second inning on, never giving Iowa a chance to come back.

What’s Next?

Penn State will compete in the second round of Big Ten Tournament play against No. 3-seeded Nebraska at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 8, in West Lafayette, Indiana,