LANCASTER, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's softball team swept conference foe Lancaster Bible to set a new program record for consecutive victories with 11 in a row on Wednesday afternoon, April 16. The Lions cruised to a 10-1 win in six innings to begin the day before late-game heroics culminated with a 9-8 victory the nightcap. 


Madelyn Lehigh continued her torrid play as of late, going 2-for-2 with a pair of walks, three RBIs and two runs scored, while Madisen Minney had three hits and drove in a run. Aspen Walker homered and scored three runs and Ava Allison had two hits, including a double. Kylee Miller earned her second complete-game win in as many days, allowing just one run and striking out seven.


The Lions (18-8, 8-2 United East) went to work early, scoring five runs in the first two frames to build a comfortable cushion. Allison plated Lehigh with a sacrifice bunt in the first before the latter drove in a pair of runs with a single to right field in the second. Minney followed Lehigh up with an RBI single of her own and Lehigh eventually scored on a wild pitch, making it 5-0 through one and a half.


LBC (11-15, 1-7 United East) got on the board with a lone run in the fourth but Penn State Harrisburg responded with another crooked number in the fifth, scoring three runs on RBI singles from Cara Biesecker and Lehigh, as well as a Lancaster Bible error. The visitors kept it rolling in the sixth, as Sierra Sims drove in Allison with a sac fly to center field before Walker hit her solo home run to stretch the lead to nine and put things out of reach an inning early. 


The second contest provided more drama, with the Lions (19-8, 9-2 United East) racing out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first and the Chargers (11-16, 1-8 United East) answering right back with three of their own in the bottom half. The visitors retook the lead in the third when Fisher's single to left field plated Biesecker and tacked on another in the fifth when Biesecker's sac fly drove in Walker. 


When LBC cut the deficit to one in the bottom of the fifth, Penn State Harrisburg answered right back thanks to a Walker single that scored Minney. The Chargers finally pulled even again in the home half but Carissa Yeager limited the damage and kept things tied heading to the final stanza.


Fisher got a two-out rally started with a single to left field and Lehigh did what she does, lacing a triple to left center and driving in the go-ahead run. Minney followed it up with an inside-the-park home run that brought Lehigh around with her to extend the lead to 9-6. Lancaster Bible made it interesting by scoring a pair in the bottom half but Yeager struck out three in the frame, including the final two batters to seal the thrilling victory.


NOTABLES
- With the pair of victories, Penn State Harrisburg set a new program record for consecutive wins with 11 in a row.
- Lehigh finished 2-for-2 with two walks, three RBIs and two runs scored in the opener. She went 2-for-4 with a triple, a walk, two runs and an RBI in the nightcap.
- Minney was 3-for-4 with an RBI in the first game. She drove in three runs, scored two more and hit an inside-the-park home run in the second outing.
- Allison went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in the opening contest.
- Walker homered and scored three runs in game one. She was 3-for-3 with a triple, two RBIs and a run scored in game two. 
- Miller won her eighth game of the season, striking out seven batters in six innings of work.
- Kierstyn Smith threw five innings in the nightcap and struck out five.
- Yeager threw two innings of relief in game two, striking out three and earning the win.
- Fisher went 2-for-3 with a pair of walks, two runs scored and an RBI in game two.


WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions continue conference play when they host United East foe Valley Forge for doubleheader action on Friday afternoon. 


STAY CONNECTED
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