Fredericksburg, Va. – Penn State Harrisburg women's softball team lost a key double header match up to Capital Athletic Conference foe Mary Washington on Saturday April 11th by the score of 8-0 and 8-1.
Fighting for the final playoff spot in the CAC, the Lady Lions came into the game knowing it could very well prove to be a must win game. Both teams went scoreless for the first two innings of game one before Mary Washington scored two runs in the bottom of the third to take a 2-0 lead.
The Lady Lions didn't seem to have an answer on offense being shut out for the first four innings. Defensively the Blue and White could not stop Mary Washington's high power offense from scoring two more runs in the fourth and three runs in the fifth to take a 7-0 lead heading into the sixth.
After a single off the bat of Mackenzie Trafka (Middletown Pa. / Middletown Area), Harrisburg looked to rally but again failed to score. In the top of the sixth, the Eagles scored again to take the 8-0 win.
Hoping to turn their luck around in game two, the Lady Lions again came up short. The Eagles offense got hot by scoring six runs in the bottom of the second to take a 7-0 lead. The Lions just couldn't get anything to go their way. Unable to provide an offensive spark, Mary Washington scored once more to take an 8-0 lead.
With two outs in the top of the fifth, Amanda Hartman (Reading Pa. / Oley Valley) gave the Lions something to cheer about when she doubled to center field. Hartman scored to cut the Eagles lead to seven thanks to a single by Jenna Rupakus (New Milford, Pa. / Blue Ridge). Holding the Eagles scoreless in the sixth, the Blue and White looked to rally in the seventh but eventually came up short losing 8-1. Hartman finished the game going 2 for 3 also scoring the lone run of the day.
The Penn State Harrisburg softball team continues to fight for the last playoff spot when they visit the top seeded Christopher Newport in a double header on Sunday April 12th. First pitch is at 1pm.