MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's softball team dropped a pair of contests to non-conference opponent Dickinson on Tuesday afternoon, March 25. Despite a last-inning surge by the Lions, the Red Devils took game one 2-1. Dickinson completed the doubleheader sweep with a convincing 12-4 victory in the nightcap.


GAME 1
Dickinson (9-8) got on the board first in the top of third, after a Lions fielding error loaded the bases and allowed Eden Blanker to hit a sacrifice fly to send Jessie Sandusky across home plate.



The Red Devils capitalized on another Penn State Harrisburg (8-5) defensive miscue in the sixth inning and Abby Kohan's single through the left side put the visitors up 2-0. In the final inning, the Lions' attempt to claw back into the game was fueled by a first-pitch home run by Emily Cutman that was rocketed into left field.


With one out in the seventh, Mackenzie Fisher hit a triple out of the left fielder's reach which put the tying run into scoring position. Dickinson forced a pop-out bunt before pitcher Erin McMahon recorded her eighth strikeout of the game to secure the 2-1 victory for the Red Devils.


GAME 2
The Red Devils (10-8) continued to take advantage of Penn State Harrisburg's unforced errors in the nightcap, and secured the doubleheader sweep by tallying 12 runs compared to four from the home team.


Once again, the visitors struck first in the third inning and scored a trio of runs to get out to an early 3-0 lead. The Lions (8-6) fired right back thanks to Madisen Minney's inside the park home run that was sent to straight center field. It was Dickinson, however, that had the biggest answer in the top of the fourth by scoring five runs in the inning.


After the Red Devils added another run and had the bases loaded, Carissa Yeager came in for Kierstyn Smith on the mound. Yeager immediately struck out a batter, but it wasn't enough to stop McMahon for sending a long single into right field that ended up scoring three more runs to bring the score to 8-1.


Sierra Sims earned a run with a single in the bottom of the fourth before Cutman added a single of her own and McFadden doubled two innings later to cut the deficit to five. In the final frame, Dickinson tacked on three runs for good measure to end the game in their favor 12-4.    


NOTABLES
- Minney totaled four hits, a triple, an RBI, and a home run between both games on Tuesday.
- Cutman had pair of hits, an RBI, and a home run in the doubleheader.
- Kylee Miller went the total length of the opener on the mound and had four strikeouts. In the second contest, Smith and Yeager threw equal innings. Yeager earned three strikeouts in three innings pitched.
- Madelyn Lehigh added two hits and a triple during game two against the Red Devils.
- In game one Fisher, Sims, and Smith all tallied a hit each, while in the nightcap McFadden and Sims both had one hit apiece.


WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions are back home on Saturday, March 29 for a United East Conference doubleheader against Penn State Brandywine. The contest will serve as the program's alumni day.


STAY CONNECTED
Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Facebook, X, and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.