MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's softball team split a conference doubleheader with Penn College on Tuesday, April 22. The Lions came away with the victory in the opener 6-3, before dropping a 5-0 decision to Penn College in the nightcap.
GAME 1
After the home team scored two runs in the second inning of game one, Penn State Harrisburg (23-8, 13-2 United East) answered with six runs of their own in the third frame. With two outs,
Mackenzie Fisher singled to left field and
Madelyn Lehigh earned a walk to set the stage for
Rylee Martinez to start the scoring off for the visiting Lions. Martinez and
Sierra Sims hit back-to-back singles to center field to put two on the board, before
Aspen Walker sent another runner home thanks to a catcher's interference.
Ava Allison put the exclamation mark on the inning when she hit a three RBI double that gave Penn State Harrisburg a 6-2 advantage.
Penn College's Ryleigh Rinker added one more run for good measure in the sixth inning, but it was too little too late to bridge the gap created by the visitors in the opener.
Allison went 3-for-5 and had a trio of RBI to lead Penn State Harrisburg, while Martinez, Sims, and Herncane all added an RBI each.
Kylee Miller earned the win in the circle for Penn State Harrisburg, with four strikeouts in seven innings pitched.
GAME 2
The nightcap was all Penn College (24-11, 10-4 United East) as they scored a total of five unanswered points throughout the course of the contest. The hometown Lions didn't waste any time, as the pitcher from game one started off things with a single to left field that sent Madison Herriman home. In the third frame, it was once again the top of the lineup that provided a spark for Penn College and extended the lead to 3-0.
Penn State Harrisburg had plenty of opportunities to respond to the home squad in the latter half of the contest, as there were five left on base through three innings.
Lehigh went 2-for-4 in the batter's box, while
Carissa Yeager and
Kierstyn Smith shared pitching duties for the visitors. Yeager started the game and threw two innings prior to Smith finishing the remainder of the contest and striking out three batters.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions travel to Gwynedd Mercy for a non-conference doubleheader on Thursday, April 24 at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
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