Nittany Lions Ink Pair of Incoming Transfers for 2026 Season

SR | INF | DANVILLE, PA. | DANVILLE / TOWSON

Hailing from the Keystone State, Bohner returns home for her final season of collegiate eligibility at Pennsylvania’s flagship institution coming off three consecutive years of two-way success at Towson. Bohner, a native of Danville, Pennsylvania, boasts a careerlong .292 batting average highlighted by a 2024 campaign that saw her hit .305 with a career-best quartet of home runs. She owns 31 doubles in her collegiate career in addition to a pair of triples and seven home runs for 40 total extra-base hits since her debut season in 2023. Last year, Bohner anchored Towson’s defense up the middle, playing predominately at second base while recording a fielding percentage of .959, simultaneously hitting to the tune of a. 289 average with 15 doubles, a triple and home run to her credit. During her collegiate career, Bohner owns a .947 career fielding percentage and will look to bolster the Nittany Lion middle infield in the coming year. During her time at Danville High School, Bohner was a two-time First Team All-Region choice and PIAA Second Team All-State selection prior to the start of her collegiate career.

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WHY CARA CHOSE PENN STATE

“I chose to spend my last year of college softball at Penn State because of the culture here,” Bohner said. “I grew up a Penn State fan and love the standard of excellence that has been built across all of athletics. The coaching staff is top-notch, and they blew me away with their vision and plans to get back to the postseason. I am so incredibly honored to have the opportunity to wear Penn State across my chest for my final year.”

JR | RHP | EVANSVILLE, WIS. | BRODHEAD / SOUTH DAKOTA

A native of Evansville, Wisconsin, Young joins the Blue & White following her breakout campaign at the University of South Dakota in which she was named a Second Team All-Summit League selection. Young mustered an impressive 14-8 individual record in the circle while clocking an earned run average of 2.46, the best individual effort of her career to date. Young boasts a strong strikeout-to-walk ratio over the course of her career, mustering a 2.55 mark in that category since her debut season in 2024. Young appeared in 32 contests last year and made 21 starts, finishing the season with 10 complete game, five shutouts and a save to her credit. Her 2025 stats include 128.0 innings pitched and 152 strikeouts while holding opposing batters to a meager .229 average. Young’s 152 strikeouts last season ranked fifth all-time in South Dakota program history, while her 8.3 strikeouts per seven innings ranked 28th in college softball a year ago. While attending Brodhead High School in Wisconsin, Young impressed as a dual-sport athlete in softball and volleyball, earning a pair of First Team All-Conference, First Team All-District and Second Team All-State honors for her work on the diamond.

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WHY MCKENNA CHOSE PENN STATE

“I chose Penn State because of the people,” Young stated. “The coaches made me feel valued, and I could tell that they cared about me as a person rather than just as a softball player. Penn State was comforting. From the moment I stepped off the plane, I felt comfortable. I love the big-school small-town feel. I also can’t forget about the fans. Knowing that everyone in the community supports the athletes makes for an incredible college experience. I am blessed to have been given this opportunity.”

Penn State completed its 60th anniversary season in 2025, with the Nittany Lions booking an appearance into the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Conference Softball Tournament. PSU finished the year with 25 total victories and shattered multiple single-season program records including batting average, home runs, RBI, runs scored and total bases. The Blue & White also mustered the program’s 16th all-time victory in the Big Ten Tournament with a 6-2 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of the 2025 event, securing its first Big Ten Tournament opening-round win since the 2023 campaign and third opening-round victory in the last four years. The Nittany Lions secured a quartet of All-Big Ten Second Team honorees and one selection to the Big Ten All-Defensive Team in the league’s postseason release, garnering a wide array of accolades following PSU’s record-breaking season.

In addition to Bohner and Young, the Blue & White welcome the return of multiple student-athletes from last year’s roster, including six starters. Spotlighting Penn State’s bevy of returning production is reigning Second Team All-Big Ten Conference selection Brooke Klosowicz, who continues her stint in Central Pennsylvania following a record-breaking year which saw the Johnsburg, Illinois, native shatter the PSU single-season doubles record while becoming just the third woman in school history to muster 50 runs in a year. The Nittany Lions also welcome back rising sophomore and Big Ten All-Defensive Team selection Natalie Lieto, who will look to expand on her sensational rookie effort in the upcoming 2026 season. Penn State is also slated to add a wide array of newcomers, highlighted by seven incoming freshmen, namely Mackenzie Duncan, Kirsten Finarelli, Gabby Gradishar, Breanna Hanik, Allison Oneacre, Kalli Karwowski and Brevyn Kellepouris.