Freshman first baseman Gabby Gradishar hit a home run in the top of the seventh inning to lead the Penn State softball team to a 7-6 victory over Rutgers, clinching the Big Ten Conference series on March 28. The game took place at the Rutgers Softball Complex in Piscataway, New Jersey.
The win marks Penn State’s first Big Ten series victory of the season and improves their overall record to 22-11 and conference record to 3-5. With this result, Rutgers falls back to an even 17-17 overall and holds a 3-8 mark in conference play. The all-time series between Penn State and Rutgers now stands at 45 wins for Penn State out of 75 games since their first meeting in 1980.
Gradishar had her best collegiate performance so far, going three-for-four with two runs batted in, including her second career home run that proved decisive for her team. She previously set her career high with two hits against N.C. Central on February 27 and hit her first home run against Ohio Bobcats on February 21.
Other notable performances included junior third baseman Brooke Klosowicz, who went two-for-four with two runs scored, three RBI, and a home run; freshman left fielder Breanna Hanik with two hits; and sophomore center fielder Natalie Lieto also recording multiple hits. In pitching, sophomore Abigail Britton closed out the game with three innings pitched and six strikeouts to earn her fourth win of the season.
Penn State started strong by scoring twice in the first inning but trailed after a four-run third by Rutgers. A three-run homer by Klosowicz tied things up in the fourth before both teams traded single runs in subsequent innings. Gradishar’s late-game heroics ultimately secured the win for Penn State as Britton held off Rutgers’ offense for the final outs.
The Nittany Lions will finish their three-game weekend series against Rutgers on Sunday, March 29. The final game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start at Rutgers Softball Complex.
