Reading, Pa. - The Penn State Harrisburg softball team struggled to get back to the winning ways the team started with throughout most of March during a double header road trip to Alvernia University. Unfortunately, the Lions suffered a 5-2 loss in game one and a 12-4 loss in game two.
The Blue and White came out strong in game one. Harrisburg got on the board early when Jackie Furch (Hallstead, Pa. / Blue Ridge) singled to right field, bringing home Gabrielle Wolfe (New Milford, Pa. / Blue Ridge) to give the visitors a quick 1-0 lead. Alvernia answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the second to keep things close. Again, Furch came in clutch in the top of the third, knocking a double to left that sent Rieley Loch (Madison Township, Pa. / North Pocono) home. The Crusaders responded to tie the game in the bottom of that inning, then added three runs in the the sixth to win game one 5-2.
Determined to get revenge in game two, the Blue and White got right to work in the top of the first inning scoring four runs. RBI's by Amanda Hartman (Reading Pa. / Oley Valley), Mackenzie Trafka (Middletown Pa. / Middletown Area), Kristen Evans (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin), and Jenna Rupakus (New Milford, Pa. / Blue Ridge) really got the bats going for Harrisburg and allowed them to take a commanding lead early. Unfortunately, the Lions defensive efforts were not up to par with their offense. The Lions allowed Alvernia to answer with an eight run inning of their own to take over the lead. The Crusaders added four more runs in the fourth and fifth innings to win game two 12-4 in five innings.
Penn State Harrisburg will look to turn things around Tuesday April 21st when they take on Juniata for a double-header beginning at 3 p.m.