WILKES BARRE, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's softball team returned from a long layoff with a non-conference doubleheader split at Wilkes on Tuesday afternoon, March 24. 


Lillian Feltenberger had a massive first game, hitting a home run and racking up five RBI. Madisen Minney also had a multi-hit game one, while Allyson Leidy secured the win and Megan Foltz picked up the save. 


GAME 1
Wilkes (8-3) jumped out to a 2-0 lead to begin the game but Felteberger cut the deficit in half with an RBI single to center field that plated Minney. The Colonels tacked on another run in the third but Feltenberger again had the answer in the fourth when she singled to right field and drove in Elaina Gates in the process.


The home team pushed its lead back to two in the fourth but Sierra Sims got into the scoring act with an RBI single to right that pushed Aspen Walker across in the top of the sixth. Feltenberger eventually followed with the biggest swing of the game when she homered to opposite field, driving in Emily Cutman and Sims to give the Lions (7-2) a lead they wouldn't relinquish. 


After Wilkes cut the deficit to one in the bottom half, Penn State Harrisburg added some insurance in the seventh thanks to an Ava Allison RBI double that scored Mackenzie Fisher and and Minney single up the middle that brought Allison across. Foltz entered in the seventh and needed just four at-bats to put the finishing touches on the hard-fought win. 


GAME 2
The Wilkes offense came to life early in the nightcap and put Penn State Harrisburg (7-3) in a hole it wasn't able to climb out of. 


The Lions picked up where they left off in game one when Cutman's single to center field drove in Allison in the top of the first but the Colonels (9-3) responded with seven runs on seven hits in the bottom of the frame. Penn State Harrisburg loaded the bases in the top of the ensuing stanza but an inning-ending double play erased the scoring threat. 


A grand slam aided Wilkes in the bottom of the second and stretched the lead to double figures and despite the visitors threatening again with a pair of runners in scoring position in the third, they were unable to cut into the deficit, allowing the home team to end game two early. 


NOTABLES
- The Lions racked up 11 total hits in the opener.
- Feltenberger was unstoppable in game one, finishing 3-for-3 with a three-run home run, five RBI and a run scored. 
- Minney finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in the first outing.
- Allison reached base twice in opening game, doubling, walking, driving in a run and scoring another.
- Leidy earned her second win of the spring in game one, while Foltz picked up her fourth save of the season.
- Allison and Walker each doubled in game two. 
- Cutman drove in Penn State Harrisburg's lone run in the nightcap. 


WHO'S NEXT? 
The Lions head back to whence they came when they travel to Marywood for another non-conference doubleheader on Thursday afternoon. 


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