PHOENIXVILLE, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's softball team slugged its way to a conference doubleheader sweep of Valley Forge on Tuesday afternoon, April 7. The Lions took game one 19-2 before rolling to a decisive 14-3 victory in the second contest, both of which went just five innings.


Lauren Maguire shined in the opener, going five-for-five and tallying four runs and seven RBIs, while Madisen Minney hit a pair of doubles and Emily Cutman batted in four runners. In the circle, Kylee Miller and Allyson Leidy worked together for double-digit strikeouts and Miller ultimately earned the win.


It was all Penn State Harrisburg (13-6, 3-3 United East) for the first two and a half innings, as the squad posted 10 runs on 13 hits. Cutman started the scoring off in the first stanza when she hit a double that sent a pair of runs home. Up 2-0 going into the second frame, Lillian Feltenberger hit a 2 RBI single before Maguire had a massive triple that tallied three more runs and she herself was able to cross home plate due to a fielding error by the Patriots (4-12, 1-4 United East).


Valley Forge put one on the board in the third inning thanks to a single by Melina Ragotzy, but the visitors had a dominant fifth stanza that put the game well out of reach in the end for the Patriots. The Lions scored nine runs in the last inning alone, recording 10 hits off eight singles and a pair of triples for Minney. The home team tacked on one more run in the last inning, but the 19-2 deficit was too much to overcome.


Game two was much of the same for Penn State Harrisburg (14-6, 4-2 UEC), scoring 10 runs in the opening frame to set the tone right away. Cutman went a perfect 3-for-3 with four RBIs while Minney and Aspen Walker had identical outings, going 2-for-2 with an RBI. In the circle, Megan Foltz earned the win for the Lions, striking out six batters. Kierstyn Smith pitched the last two innings of the contest and had five strikeouts.


Cutman, Sierra Sims, Lillian Feltenberger hit consecutive singles to take an early 3-0 lead before Shelby Mitman hit an 3 RBI double to extend the lead for the away team. Minney singled, Walker doubled, and it came back to Cutman again who added another single to bring the game to 10-0 after one inning.


The Patriots (4-13, 1-5 UEC) answered in the third frame with a 3 RBI double by Sierra Brown, but the short burst proved not enough due to Penn State Harrisburg's dominant offensive performance. Cutman and Elefante drove in a run each in the fourth, while Sims and Aleisa Rowe did the same in the final inning, securing the game two victory 14-3.


NOTABLES
- Maguire went 5-for-5 with a triple and seven RBIs in the opener, tying the program record for RBIs in a single game.
- Minney was 3-for-5 with three RBIs and a pair of triples in game one, tying the program record in triples in a single contest. She went 2-for-2 with a RBI in the second outing.
- Cutman finished 3-for-4 with a double and four RBIs in the first contest before going 3-for-3 with four RBIs and a double in the nightcap.
- Walker was 3-for-4 with a RBI in the first game before going 2-for-2 with a RBI and a double in game two.
- Miller earned her fifth win of the season, striking out four batters. Leidy finished game one with six strikeouts of her own through three innings.
- Feltenberger went 3-for-4 with two RBIs in the first game.
- In the opener, Shannan Williams tallied a pair of RBI.
- In the circle for game two, Foltz earned her first win of the season, going three innings and striking out six batters. Smith did the remaining two frames and had five strikeouts.


WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions return to Courtney Pollock Memorial Field on Saturday afternoon, April 11 for an United East conference doubleheader against Cairn. The contests will serve as the program's youth day.


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