SCRANTON, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's softball team came up just short of completing the doubleheader sweep at Marywood on Thursday afternoon, March 26, claiming a 6-2 victory in the opener before being edged 2-1 in the nightcap. 


GAME 1
Penn State Harrisburg (8-3) racked up 10 hits and got a strong outing from Kylee Miller inside the circle to create separation in the late innings and take game one of Thursday's non-conference doubleheader. 


Lauren Maguire had a three-hit game, while Aspen Walker drove in a game-high three runs. Emily Cutman and Lillian Feltenberger each finished with a two hits, including a double. Miller earned her second win of the season, allowing just two runs and striking out six batters to reach the 200-strikeout mark for her career. 


The Lions scored the game's first run in the top of the opening frame thanks to Walker's RBI, sacrifice bunt that allowed Maguire to score from third but the Pacers (6-5) answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the stanza. The visitors immediately tied the game in the top of the second when a Marywood error scored Sierra Sims from third base. 


Penn State Harrisburg reclaimed the lead in the fifth when an RBI groundout from Sims drove in Cutman and the Lions added some insurance in the sixth when Walker's two-out, RBI single up the middle pushed Kierstyn Smith and Maguire across. The visitors padded their cushion with one last run in the seventh thanks to a Smith sac fly to right field that plated Feltenberger and Miller struck out the game's final two batters to put the finishing touches on the well-balanced win.


GAME 2
Penn State Harrisburg (8-4) moved the potential tying run into scoring position in the seventh inning but was unable to push it across in a narrow, 2-1 setback in the final game of Thursday's doubleheader. 


Madisen Minney reached base three times and drove in the team's lone run, while Sims also had a multi-hit game. Megan Foltz was strong in relief, allowing just four baserunners and no runs in three innings of work. 


The Pacers (7-5) scored the game's first run via a solo shot in the bottom of the third and doubled their advantage thanks to a sac fly in the ensuing frame. The Lions put together a two-out rally in the top of the seventh that resulted in a Minney RBI single up the middle that drove in Ashley Elefante and moved Maguire into scoring position but the late push came up just short as Marywood was able to hold off the late charge and earn the doubleheader split. 


NOTABLES
- Maguire racked up three hits and scored two runs in game one.
- Feltenberger was 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored in the opener.
- Cutman went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in the first outing.
- Walker drove in three runs in the opening contest.
- Miller earned the complete game victory in game one, allowing just two runs and striking out six to reach the 200-strikeout mark for her career.
- Minney was 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in game two. 
- Sims finished 2-for-3 in the nightcap. 
- Cutman's double accounted for Penn State Harrisburg's lone extra-base hit in the second outing. 
- Foltz threw the game's final three innings, allowing just two hits and surrendering no runs. 


WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions begin conference play when they travel to Cedar Crest for a United East doubleheader on Saturday 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.