Story by Seth Goodyear
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – On Sunday afternoon, Mar. 9, Penn State Harrisburg spilt a doubleheader to pick up the team's first win of the 2014 season. The Lions fell in the first game to Dakota State 7-5 before defeating Ursinus 13-0 in 5 innings.
In game one, the Blue & White fell behind 2-0 in the first inning. The offense got started in the second when junior Erika Love (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin East) scored on a double to center from junior Mackenzie Trafka (Middletown, Pa. / Middletown Area).
The Lions got some more offense production in the third inning. Freshman Amanda Hartman (Reading, Pa. / Oley Valley) crushed a double and sophomore Rieley Loch (Madison Township, Pa. / North Pocono) drove in Hartman with a single of her own to tie the game at two-apiece.
Dakota State answered right back in the bottom of the third putting up 4 runs to extend their advantage to 6-2.
Penn State Harrisburg would not quit and slowly chipped away at the Trojans' lead, scoring a run in the fifth and sixth innings.
Going into the top of the seventh inning, the Lions trailed 7-4 but once again tried to rally. Loch drove a pitch over the left field fence for her first home run of the season. The Blue & White managed to get the tying run to the plate but could not complete the comeback.
Penn State Harrisburg used the break between games to regroup and came out in game two with a much better mentality to take on a tough Ursinus team.
Junior Gabrielle Wolfe (New Milford, Pa. / Blue Ridge) took the mound looking to avenge last year's 15-0 loss to the Bears and found her groove in the early going, giving up two hits over the first three innings while striking four batters.
In the third inning, the Lions' offense exploded with Wolfe leading the charge. She took a pitch deep over the center field fence for her first home run of the season and gave the Lions the lead.
Inspired by her effort, the Blue & White ripped off six straight hits with Love, Trafka, sophomore Jackie Furch (Hallstead, Pa. / Blue Ridge), and freshman Leah Palm (Hummlestown, Pa / Lower Dauphin) picking up RBIs.
Penn State Harrisburg offense was far from done, putting up six more runs on three hits. Trafka highlighted the offense with a deep double off the fence in right center that drove in two runs.
While the offense continued to shine, Wolfe was in complete control of the game. Working through each pitch, she got stronger as the game went on and finished the two hit shut out in five innings.
Penn State Harrisburg will be back in action tomorrow against Arcadia at 9:30 a.m. and Gordon College at 11:30 a.m.