ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's softball team opened United East play with a doubleheader split at conference foe Cedar Crest on Sunday afternoon, March 29. The Lions shutout the hosts 7-0 in game one before falling by the slimmest of margins, 9-8, in eight innings in the nightcap. 


GAME 1
Penn State Harrisburg (9-4, 1-0 United East) scored in all but two innings of its opening-game victory over the Falcons (6-7, 0-1 United East) and Kylee Miller allowed just four baserunners in securing the complete game, shutout win inside the circle. 


Emily Cutman drove in the game's first run with a single to left field that plated Madisen Minney in the top of the first and a Cedar Crest error allowed Lillian Feltenberger to score from second base in the top of the second. 


The top of the fifth saw Cutman drive in Minney for the second time on the day, this time thanks to an RBI doubled to right center field. The Lions tacked on two more runs in the sixth when Mackenzie Fisher came around on a throwing error and Lauren Maguire scored thanks to a two-out double from Aspen Walker. 


The visitors added more insurance in the seventh when Ashley Elefante's two-out double to left center drove in Elaina Gates and Feltenberger, and Miller put the finishing touches on her gem by working around a lead-off single in the bottom half before retiring the last three batters she faced in the bottom half. 


GAME 2
Defensive miscues cost Penn State Harrisburg (9-5, 1-1 United East) in game two, as despite outhitting Cedar Crest (7-7, 1-1 United East) 14-9, the Lions fell by the slimmest of margins in extra innings in Sunday's final game. 


Five errors aided the Falcons in scoring five unearned runs, including the game-deciding run in the bottom of the eighth, allowing the home team to escape its home field with the narrow victory. 


The Lions led 4-0 through two and a half stanzas but Cedar Crest put up a five spot in the bottom of the third to pull ahead for the first time. The Falcons led by three entering the seventh but Penn State Harrisburg used three hits, including a leadoff triple from Minney and an RBI singles from Rylee Martinez and Sierra Sims, to pull even and force extras. 


NOTABLES
- Cutman was 2-for-4 with a double and a pair of RBI in the opener. 
- Rylee Martinez doubled and had a two-hit game in the first outing. 
- Walker and Elefante each doubled in game one. 
- Minney and Feltenberger each scored two runs in the first contest. 
- Miller allowed just four hits and no runs to go along with six strikeouts in seven shutout innings in game one. 
- Cutman stayed hot in game two, finishing 3-for-4 with a home run, an RBI and three runs scored.
- Minney went 3-for-5 with a triple, a double and two runs scored in the nightcap.
- Martinez was 3-for-4 with an RBI in the second outing. 
- Feltenberger and Elefante also had multi-hit second games. 


WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions host Penn College for their home-opening doubleheader at Courtney Pollock Memorial Field on Wednesday 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.