Agape Freedom Sports LLC

Written By: Jeric Yurkanin

Penn State didn’t ease into the season — they kicked the door in.

The Nittany Lions opened opening weekend with a doubleheader sweep, grinding out a 7–4 extra-inning win over Missouri and then coming right back to blank Boston College 7–0. Two games. Two wins. And a whole lot of early-season confidence.

And for NEPA fans? The headline writes itself.

Lake-Lehman graduate and Penn State true freshman Kirsten Finarelli (#41) didn’t just “make her debut” — she made a statement.

Game 1 vs. Missouri (7–4, 10 innings)

Tie game. Extra innings. Pressure moment.

Finarelli comes up in the 10th and delivers the go-ahead RBI single that cracked the game open. She finished 3-for-5, scored three runs, and looked like she’d been playing Big Ten softball for years.

Game 2 vs. Boston College (7–0)

No cooldown. No rookie nerves.

Finarelli stays hot, going 3-for-4 and sending a solo home run to right field — the kind of swing that turns heads fast. Another RBI. Another big moment. Another “remember that name.”

Penn State showed balance all day — timely power, quality at-bats, and pitching that took control — but seeing a NEPA kid step onto the D1 stage and produce immediately made it even better.

NEPA note: Valley View graduate and Penn State true freshman Kalli Karwowski was sidelined this weekend. She expected to be in lineup in the future!

Bottom line: Penn State is 2–0, and #41 came ready.