MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – Penn State Berks' softball team took its trip to Middletown on Apr. 17 riding not just its coach bus, but also a 12-game win-streak.  Berks had lost just two games to that point and its impressive win-loss record (22-2 overall, 11-0 in conference play) was a message to its opposition stating that if any team planned on taking them down, it had better bring its A-game.  That afternoon, Penn State Harrisburg did just that. 

After falling to Berks 4-1 in a hard-fought opening contest of a North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) doubleheader, Penn State Harrisburg turned in its best outing of the season and topped the opposing Lions 1-0 thanks to a nearly-flawless one-hit shutout performance by senior pitcher Kara Boyd (Alexandria, Pa. / Juniata Valley).  The ladies' mid-April victory kicks off the top five portion of Penn State Harrisburg's list of the ten best Winter/Spring sports moments from the 2012-13 season. 

Despite falling in the opener, Penn State Harrisburg managed five hits and a run off Berks' pitcher Casey Hafer, letting the visitors know that a sweep wouldn't come easy on this day.  As a matter of fact, a sweep wouldn't come at all. 

Neither Boyd nor Hafer allowed a hit through four innings of softball.  Fittingly, it was Boyd who got Harrisburg's offense rolling in the bottom of the fourth when she took advantage of an outfielder's error and turned what would have been a single into three bags.  NEAC Rookie of the Year Rieley Loch (Madison Township, Pa. / North Pocono) drove in what proved to be the game-winning run one at-bat later with a single through the left side of the infield. 

Freshmen outfielders Jasmine Yanich (Harrisburg, Pa. / Susquehanna Township) and Rachel Fisher (Lebanon, Pa. / Cedar Crest) made fantastic extra-base saving grabs in the top of the fifth and seventh innings, keeping the lead intact down the stretch.  Boyd put a bow on the W by getting the final two batters to ground out to her inside the circle. 

The thrilling victory ended Penn State Berks' 13-game win-streak and handed the NEAC frontrunners their first conference loss of the spring.  In a season defined by inconsistency, the ladies' best performance of 2013 gave the program quite the moment to remember them by.

The countdown continues tomorrow when we unveil the number four entry on Penn State Harrisburg's countdown of the most memorable 2012-13 Winter/Spring sports moments.  Can't wait?  Here's your hint.  One Gabby has already been featured on our countdown.  Let's make it two…