Penn State softball (20-10, 1-4 Big Ten) defeated the Wisconsin Badgers (15-11, 1-4 Big Ten) 14-8 in game two of its series Saturday afternoon. After a devastating 5-4 loss in their home opener Friday night, the Nittany Lions bounced back to tie the series.

Jordan George hit two home runs, including a grand slam in the first inning. Breanna Hanik also homered twice in back-to-back innings. 

How It Happened

Wisconsin struck first with Emily Bojan doubling to left center. Alivia Bark then reached base on a fielding error, allowing Bojan to score and giving the Badgers the early 1-0 lead. Michela Barbanente reached first on a throwing error to kickstart a six-run inning for the Nittany Lions. Breanna Hanik then reached on a fielder’s choice. With two runners aboard, Brooke Klosowicz singled to left center, scoring Barbanente. Cleanup batter Allison Oneacre doubled to right center, scoring Hanik. Natalie Lieto walked, putting runners on first and third with one out. Bridget Nemeth kept the hitting coming with a single to center field. Jordan George smashed a grand slam into center field, giving the Nittany Lions a 6-1 lead after the first inning. 

JORDAN with her first Home Run as a Nittany Lion, and it's a GRAND SLAM!!

E1 | PSU 6, WISC 1#WeAre | #AllIn pic.twitter.com/NMTQDjwAcx

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) March 21, 2026

Nemeth owned the circle, retiring the Badger batters in order with two strikeouts and a flyout. Barbanente walked to start the bottom of the second, but was caught stealing second. Hanik and Klosowicz swung for singles, followed by Oneacre singling to load the bases. Lieto grounded out to first, scoring Hanik, and the Nittany Lions extended their lead to 7-1. 

The Badgers were shut down once again by Nemeth. Hilary Blomberg had the lone single for Wisconsin, but she was left on base. The bats stayed hot, and smart base running from the Nittany Lions added three more runs to the scoreboard. George singled through the left side, followed by a single from Madison Seidel. Kara Karwowski, who pinch ran for George, scored on a wild pitch. Barbanente walked once again, and Hanik reached on a throwing error. That error allowed both Barbanente and Seidel to reach home, extending the Nittany Lion lead to 10-1. 

Wisconsin sparked in the fourth inning, driving in four runs. Danielle Lucey doubled to left center to kick off the action. Makenzie Foster tripled down the right field line, scoring Lucey, and Jaclyn Showalter drove in Foster with a single. McKenna Young was brought in and took over pitching duties. Kaylie Whidden walked, and a single to left field from Bojan scored pinch runners Rylie Crane and Emma King. Karwowski walked in the bottom of the fourth, but no hits left her on base. The Nittany Lions led 10-5 after four innings. 

Kendra Lewis walked to start the top of the fifth. Bark singled, and Lucey later reached on a fielder’s choice. With Brevyn Kellepouris on to pitch, the Badgers left two runners on base. Hanik blasted a home run to left field for the Nittany Lions. Klosowicz followed up with a single, and Oneacre was intentionally walked. Penn State left two runners on base and added to their lead, 11-5.

BREANNA with the HOME RUN to put Penn State up 11-5 in the bottom of the fifth.

B5 | 1 OUT | PSU 11, WISC 5#WeAre | #AllIn pic.twitter.com/4xKzMkpA8F

— Penn State Softball (@PennStateSB) March 21, 2026

Whidden walked to start the top of the sixth. Bojan then reached on a fielding error, and Blomberg doubled to center, scoring Whidden. Bark doubled down the third base line, scoring pinch runner Ava Parent and Bojan. With three hits and three runs, Wisconsin began to close the game, trailing 8-11. That was until George stepped to the plate, blasting another home run, this time a solo shot to center field. Seidel followed up with a double, and Hanik homered to center. After a successful inning at the plate, the Nittany Lions led 14-8. 

Abigail Britton closed out the game for the Nittany Lions, allowing no hits and securing the victory for Penn State, 14-8. 

Takeaways

• The Nittany Lions hit .452 on the day, recording 14 hits.
• Jordan George and Breanna Hanik each had two home runs, combining for eight RBIs.
• Penn State’s pitching totaled six strikeouts and allowed ten hits across the four pitchers. 
• Penn State will look to use today’s offensive production to push them to a series victory tomorrow afternoon. 

What’s Next?

The Nittany Lions will wrap up their series against Wisconsin tomorrow, Sunday, March 22, at 1 p.m. This series-deciding game will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.