MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – The Penn State Harrisburg softball team returned home on Wednesday to host conference rival York (Pa.) in an afternoon double-header, but things did not pan out the way the team had hoped they would, falling to the Spartans in both contests.
Game 1
The visiting Spartans got on the board first in the top of the second inning. With one out and runners on second and third base, Savannah Galati made contact on a pitch that settled in front of home plate, but a fielding error by Catcher Jessica Roelli allowed Carleigh Ruleman to score from third. A single to center field by Quinn Fisher in the following at-bat would bring home Ashley Werner. 2-0 Spartans
York would double their lead in the top of the third inning on a Carleigh Ruleman two-run homerun to left field with two outs. 4-0 Spartans
Penn State Harrisburg cut into the lead in the bottom half of the third. With two away and runners stationed at the corners, Erelle Sowers knocked a single to left field, scoring Carlee Gochenaur. 4-1 Spartans
The Spartan bats began to light up the scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning, as twelve batters would step to the plate and produce eight runs. A Carleigh Ruleman RBI single was followed up with a three-run blast by Haley Hirn to score the first four runs. Penn State Harrisburg starting pitcher Amanda Hartman would give up one more run on a Savannah Galati RBI single to right field before being relieved by Erelle Sowers. A Katie Maloney RBI single and a Joanna Marmo 2 RBI double would round out the monster inning for the visitors. 12-1 Spartans
Unable to cut into the deficit in the bottom half of the fifth inning, the eight-run mercy rule would come into effect, ending the game.
Penn State Harrisburg 1 York (Pa.) 12
WP: Ginger Lewis (6-7) LP: Amanda Hartman (3-4)
Game 2
The home team was able to get into the runs column first in this one. Kayla Seyfert led off the inning with a triple to right field. A groundout by Erelle Sowers in the following at-bat would assist Seyfert in completing her trip around the bags. 1-0 Lions
The Spartans would tie things up in the top half of the third inning. With two outs and one on, Joanna Marmo would double in Savannah Zittle from second base. Tie 1-1
Haley Hirn would crack her second homerun of the day—a solo shot to left field—in the top of the fourth inning to give to visitors a one-run lead. 2-1 Spartans
With two gone in the top of the fifth inning, Carleigh Ruleman would add another RBI to her impressive day, smacking a double to left field that would bring home Savannah Zittle from second base. 3-1 Spartans
The Lions tried to get things going offensively in the final innings against York starter Melissa Jurkiewics, but she would hold the Blue and White to only one more hit across the sixth and seventh innings to earn the complete game win.
Penn State Harrisburg 1 York (Pa.) 3
WP: Melissa Jurkiewics (9-4) LP: Allison Hartman (4-5)
Standout Lions:
Allison Hartman (7.0 IP, 8 K, 3 ER)
Kristen Evans (4-5, 3B)
Records:
Penn State Harrisburg: 10-10 (2-6 CAC)
York (Pa.): 17-11 (3-5 CAC)
Up Next:
Penn State Harrisburg will Host conference rivals Frostburg State for two games on Saturday, April 8th. Game 1 first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM.
