University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
18-16
Penn State
23-12
Pitt Stuns Penn State in Seventh-Inning Thriller
3/31/2026 10:19:00 PM | Softball
PITTSBURGH — Pitt stormed back in dramatic fashion to defeat Penn State, 8-7, on a walk-off Tuesday night at Vartabedian Field. Calle Henne led the Panthers with a perfect 4-for-4 performance at the plate and three RBIs.
The victory was Pitt's first over Penn State at home in nine years. The Panthers' last home win against the Nittany Lions came on March 29, 2017, a 7-1 decision.
Trailing 7-2 entering the bottom of the seventh inning with just four hits, the Panthers erupted for six runs on five hits to cap an energetic comeback.
Camryn Murphy jump-started the rally with a leadoff solo home run on a 1-0 pitch to cut the deficit to 7-3. Mackenzie Reese doubled and Addison Toczek drew a pinch-hit walk, with both advancing to second and third on a wild pitch. Tieley Vaughn followed with an RBI single to score Reese, and a rundown allowed Toczek to cross the plate, trimming the deficit to 7-5. Vaughn was initially ruled out at second before the call was overturned on obstruction, keeping the inning alive.
Alena Ball delivered an RBI single to bring Vaughn home and get Pitt within one. KK Esparza worked a walk and Henne, a Wexford native, continued her standout night with a deep single off the left-center wall to tie the game at 7-7.
Gracie Helton then sealed the comeback with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring pinch runner Payton Harris for the game-winning run.
Bridget Nemeth stifled Pitt's offense early, working 6.1 innings and allowing just two earned runs on four hits while striking out six. Penn State turned to three different pitchers in the seventh inning as Pitt mounted its rally.
Penn State struck first with two runs in the opening inning and score a run in the fourth and sixth inning before their lead to 7-2 on a three-run home run by Jordan George in the top of the seventh.
Pitt also saw contributions earlier in the game, including a two-run home run from Henne in the sixth inning and a strong bounce-back frame in the circle from Kyra Pittman in the second.
The Panthers return to action Thursday through Saturday with a three-game series against Syracuse at Vartabedian Field.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Lukaszewicz, Allie (1-1)
L: Young, M (8-3)
Batting:
2B: Lieto, N 2 ; Bohner, C 1
HR: George, J 1
RBI: Klosowicz, B 1 ; George, J 3 ; Bohner, C 1 ; Chamberlin, M 1
SH: Barbanente, M 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Barbanente, M 1 ; Lieto, N 1 ; Klosowicz, B 1 ; George, J 1 ; Hanik, B 1 ; Jochims, Jo 1 ; Karwowski, K 1
CS: Barbanente, M 1 ; George, J 1
HBP: Hanik, B 1 ; Oneacre, A 1
Batting:
2B: Reese, Mackenzie 1
HR: Murphy, Camryn 1 ; Henne, Calle 1
RBI: Ball, Alena 1 ; Vaughn, Tieley 1 ; Murphy, Camryn 1 ; Henne, Calle 3
SH: Helton, Gracie 1
SF: Helton, Gracie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ball, Alena 1 ; Reese, Mackenzie 1 ; Vaughn, Tieley 1 ; Esparza, KK 1 ; Murphy, Camryn 1 ; Henne, Calle 1 ; Toczek, Addison 1 ; Harris, Payton 1
