Nittany Lions Set for Three-Game B1G Set Against Rutgers

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State softball continues its extensive nine-game homestand and returns to Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field for the team’s Big Ten Conference home-opening series against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, with action set to run Friday through Sunday, April 4 through 6. This weekend’s series with Rutgers will feature a weather-modified schedule, with the teams now slated to play a doubleheader Friday beginning at 4 p.m. (ET), with game three of the series set for either Saturday or Sunday, April 5 or 6, at a time to be determined later.

PROMOTIONS AND PARKING

Penn State’s Big Ten Conference home-opening weekend will feature a wide array of promotions and attractions for fans in attendance. Friday night’s doubleheader will also serve as the Nittany Lions Military Appreciation Night, with the program slated to honor veterans and servicemembers with an in-game recognition. Weather dependent, the weekend finale would also serve as Little League & Youth Day, with Little League teams from across the commonwealth invited to attend and celebrate a day of fun at Nittany Lion Softball Park and Beard Field. As always, fans of all ages are encouraged to attend to take part in a family-friendly weekend of college softball action, including poster giveaways, autograph opportunities and the Penn State Softball Dino Race in the fourth inning of each game.

General admission seating is free for all Penn State softball home games at Nittany Lion Softball Park & Beard Field. Parking for all games in the 2025 Penn State softball season is now available online or via the ParkMobile app, with fans encouraged to prepay for parking to avoid additional fees on game days. Click the link here to be directed to the parking hub for Nittany Lion Softball Park & Beard Field and select either a full season pass or single-game parking pass at the purchaser’s discretion. Parking is available in the Stadium West, Jordan East or Porter North lots at a rate of $5.50 per game, or $5 per game when purchasing a full season pass. Day-of event parking will be $10 without a valid permit or prepayment, with fans encouraged to pay at payment stations around the lot, or via the ParkMobile app. Prepayment availability ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) the night before each scheduled game day. Events will not be selectable on the site after that time, and payment must then be made on site upon arrival.

QUICK HITS

The Nittany Lions return to action in Big Ten play after traveling to Atlanta last weekend during the team’s bye week from league play to battle a pair of power four conference teams. Penn State dropped both contests on the road but returned to the win column last Tuesday night with an impressive and efficient 8-0 victory over Bucknell in five innings of play. Pitchers Mady Volpe and Abigail Britton combined for the shutout in the circle, while sophomore second baseman Michela Barbanente highlighted the offense with a pair of doubles on her 20th birthday. Sophomore designated player Brooke Klosowicz added additional acclaim to her already-impressive resume on Thursday afternoon, April 3, as the Johnsburg, Illinois, native was named the No. 6 utility in college softball in a release by Softball America. Klosowicz was one of 15 student-athletes recognized on the list and was one of just three student-athletes that represented the Big Ten Conference in the release.

HAYLIE BRUNSON: SILENT ASSASSIN

In her fourth and final season of collegiate softball action, senior right fielder Haylie Brunson has established herself as one of the most consistent hitters, both in the Big Ten Conference and on the national stage. Her 1.168 OPS stands third on the Nittany Lion roster this season, while her .383 average ranks third overall and second among routine members of the Nittany Lion starting lineup. Brunson’s impact in the 2025 season has only grown since the start of Big Ten Conference play in mid-March. The Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, native is tied for the seventh-best batting average in league play among all Big Ten hitters, mustering a .500 average through the early going in the conference slate. Her OPS in Big Ten play of 1.442 ranks 16th in the conference and second on the team. As a hallmark player in the electric 2025 Penn State offense, Brunson has cracked her way onto multiple national statistical leaderboards. Her 11 doubles rank ninth in the Big Ten Conference and 47th nationally, while her 0.33 doubles per game rank eighth in the B1G and 60th in college softball. In the Big Ten, Brunson ranks 14th in total bases (81), 17th in slugging (.757) and 19th in home runs (nine).