MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's softball team concluded the regular season with a doubleheader split against Elizabethtown in a non-conference contest on Tuesday afternoon, April 28. The Lions secured a 5-3 victory in the opener before dropping a 7-3 decision to the Blue Jays in the nightcap.


Ashley Elefante went 2-for-3 with an RBI in the first contest, while Lauren Maguire tallied a pair of RBIs. Aspen Walker added two RBIs of her own and Kylee Miller earned the win in the circle for the Lions, striking out three batters.


Elizabethtown (19-18) took an early lead in the first inning, capitalizing on a fielding error by the home team before Maddie Reever drove in a run and Sarah Birner's single added one more, bringing the score to 3-0 in favor of the Blue Jays.


After four scoreless innings for both sides, Penn State Harrisburg (22-11) made it 3-2 in the fifth frame. Elefante singled and Mackenzie Fisher walked, setting the stage for Maguire's two-RBI double.


The Lions continued the momentum in the sixth inning after Emily Cutman reached on an error, Alesia Rowe pinch ran and later scored alongside Ava Allison on Walker's two-RBI double. Elefante added an RBI single, extending the home team's advantage to 5-3. In the top of the seventh inning, Penn State Harrisburg's defense held off Elizabethtown and ended the opener with a victory.


In game two, Cutman went a perfect 2-for-2 and had an RBI, while Maguire went 2-for-3. Kierstyn Smith recorded an RBI and Megan Foltz spent the majority of the game in the circle, striking out a batter.


In the second inning, both Sierra Sims and Maguire hit singles that led to Sims scoring the first run of the contest on a wild pitch. Elizabethtown (20-18) equalized in the next frame when Emma Dahl scored off a single by Jess Dunn.


The Blue Jays took over in the fourth inning, thanks to a six-run surge. Hannah Long's single brought in a run, and a two-RBI single by Lily Baldwin extended the lead to 3-1. Brooke Huczko's triple brought in two more runs, followed by Emily Bittner's RBI single. Dunn then scored on a single by Sarah Birner to bring the score to 7-1.


Penn State Harrisburg (22-12) added a run in their half of the inning, courtesy of an RBI single by Cutman, making it 7-2. In the seventh inning, Rowe, pinch running, scored on a groundout by Smith, bringing the final tally to 7-3 in favor of the visitors.


NOTABLES
- Miller earned the win in the circle for game one, striking out a trio of batters.
- Elefante went 2-for-3 with an RBI in the opener.
- In game one, Walker and Maguire both chipped in two RBIs apiece.
- Smith tallied an RBI in game two.
- Cutman went a perfect 2-for-2 with an RBI in the second contest.
- In the nightcap, Foltz threw for three innings and earned a strikeout. Anne Carter and Lexi Bureau also had appearances in the circle for the Lions.


WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions begin postseason play when they travel to Lancaster Bible for the United East Tournament Second Round on Friday afternoon, May 1.


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