MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – After a multitude of postponements due to inclement weather over the past couple of weeks, the Penn State Harrisburg Softball team finally got to play meaningful ball on their home field for the first time all season on Monday afternoon. Already 12 games into their season, the team played host to the Elizabethtown College Blue Jays in an afternoon double-header. The Lions managed to capture wins in both sides, improving their record to 10-4 overall.
Here is how each game played out:
The Blue Jays got on the board first in Game 1. With one out and runners on second and third in the top of the second inning, Amber Sergas came through with a single to bring the runner on third home. Two quick outs in the following at-bats would limit the damage to only one run. 1-0 Blue Jays
The Lions leapfrogged their opponents in the bottom of the third inning, scoring two runs off the bat of Kayla Seyfert. Seyfert, who came into the day's games with only one career homerun, doubled her record on a smack that cleared the left field fence. Jenna Rupakus also scored on the hit. 2-1 Lions
Elizabethtown would tie things up again in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs and runners on second and third base, Emma Varrato singled to bring in a run, but was run down trying to advance to second on the play to end the inning. Tie 2-2
The Blue and White would regain the lead in the bottom half of the fifth. With one out, Emily Parmer stepped to the plate and proceeded to hit a routine fly ball to center field, but the fielder mismanaged the ball. Another error trying to get the ball back into the infield would allow Parmer to advance all the way to third base. Kayla Seyfert, who started the at-bat on first base, managed to come all the way home on the series of misplays. In the following at-bat, Amanda Hartman assister Parmer on her trip around the bags by lifting a sacrifice fly to right field. 4-2 Lions.
Penn State Harrisburg would add to their lead once more in the bottom of the sixth inning. With two outs and runners on first and second base, Kayla Seyfert smacked a single to center field. Both runners would score on the play. 6-2 Lions
The Blue Jays would have no answer in their last opportunity, failing once again to figure out Lions Pitcher Amanda Hartman, who earned a complete game and the win while striking out four in the early contest.
Penn State Harrisburg 6 Elizabethtown 2
WP: Amanda Hartman (4-0) LP: Alyssa Wilkinson (0-4)
Game 2 would have a similar feel to the first contest in that it moved quickly for the first five innings, but Penn State Harrisburg would erupt in the sixth and never look back.
The Lions got on the board first in this one, scoring a run on an Erelle Sowers triple with no outs. Kayla Seyfert, who led off the inning with a single and a stolen base, would come around to score on the play. 1-0 Lions
The Blue Jays would tie things up in the top half of the third inning. With the bases loaded and only one out, Emma Varrato would hit a single that allowed all baserunner to move up a base, resulting in the tying run crossing home plate. Tie 1-1
A couple of innings would go by quickly before the Lions could retake the lead in the bottom of the fifth. With the bases juiced and one away, Dominique Emmett singled in Erelle Sowers from third. An out later, the bases would still be loaded for Allison Hartman, who would help her cause by earning a walk, bringing Amanda Hartman home. 3-1 Lions
The bats came alive for Penn State Harrisburg in the sixth inning. Six runs would score before the Blue Jays could capture the final out, which kicked in the eight-run mercy rule, ending the game an inning early. Runs one and two came on an Erelle Sowers double that scored Kayla Seyfert and Jenna Rupakus. Emily Parmer would be credited with the third RBI on a sacrifice fly that scored Sowers. Misread by the defense on an Allison Hartman infield fly would score run number four. A wild pitch would get credit for number five, and a Kristen Evans single to left field would score the sixth run and end the game. 9-1 Lions
Penn State Harrisburg 9 Elizabethtown 1
WP: Allison Hartman (3-3) LP: Ashley Hullihan (1-2)
Standout Lions:
Kayla Seyfert (6-7, 4 RBI, HR, 2B, 4 R, BB, SB)
Amanda Hartman (2-5, SF RBI, 2 R, BB, 7.0 IP, 4 K, 2 ER, W)
Allison Hartman (6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 K, 1 ER, W)
Erelle Sowers (3-6, 3 RBI, SAC, 2 R, 2B, 3B)
Records: Penn State Harrisburg improves to 10-4 (2-0 CAC) on the season, while Elizabethtown falls to 3-13 (0-2 Conf.).
Up Next: Penn State Harrisburg hosts Franklin & Marshall College on Tuesday, March 28th in another afternoon double-header. Game 1 first pitch is scheduled for 3:00 PM.