The Penn State softball team defeated the Maryland Terrapins 13-5 on April 3, powered by five home runs and an eight-run third inning at Nittany Lion Softball Park & Beard Field. The game ended after five innings due to the run rule.
This win marks a strong start for Penn State in its Big Ten Conference series against Maryland. The team improved to .500 in conference play at 5-5 and holds a 24-12 overall record this season. With this victory, Penn State has now scored double-digit runs for the eleventh time this year and remains undefeated when reaching that mark.
Freshman left fielder Breanna Hanik led the offense with two home runs, five RBI, and two runs scored. Hanik’s performance was her second multi-homer game of the season, both achieved at home. She is only the second freshman in program history to record multiple multi-home run games in one season. Freshman first baseman Gabby Gradishar contributed with her first collegiate grand slam during the third inning, finishing with four RBI and two runs scored. Infielder Allison Oneacre went three-for-three with a single, double, home run, two RBI, and two runs scored.
On the mound, freshman Brevyn Kellepouris started for Penn State but junior McKenna Young earned the win after pitching 1.2 innings of relief without allowing an earned run. Young improved her season record to nine wins and three losses.
Maryland took early leads in both the second and third innings before Penn State responded with an explosive bottom of the third that included three home runs—Gradishar’s grand slam followed by homers from Hanik and Oneacre—which gave them control of the game.
Penn State will look to secure its fourth consecutive series win over Maryland as they conclude their weekend set with a doubleheader scheduled for Saturday.
