MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – Penn State Harrisburg softball picked up its second North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) sweep in as many days thanks to an 8-5 win over Morrisville State in the opening contest of a doubleheader and a 10-0 shutout victory in the nightcap on Saturday afternoon, April 10. The bats were alive for the Lions, as the team combined for 27 hits on the day, including a home run and eight doubles.
GAME 1
The Blue & White jumped out to an early lead and held off a Morrisville State push in the middle innings to secure the game one victory. Steph Reider doubled twice and Delaney Nevius drove in a game-high three runs.
The Lions recorded three hits, including doubles by Reider and Nevius, and took advantage of a Morrisville error to put up three runs in the top of the first inning. Four singles got the job done for the Blue & White in the top of the second, as Sarah Coolbaugh's bases-loaded base knock drove in Courtney Fleisher and Madelyn Pyle to extend the lead to five.
Penn State Harrisburg tacked on two more in the third when a Fleisher ground ball allowed Samantha Weaver to come across before Pyle's two-out single plated Emma Einarson. In the top of the fourth, Nevius drove in her third run of the game when her single to right field brought Reider across and pushed the advantage to 8-0.
The Mustangs finally got something going in the bottom of the fourth when they used four hits and a Penn State Harrisburg error to tally four runs in the frame. Fleisher relieved starter Sierra Dixon inside the circle, however, and got three quick outs to halt the damage and the home team's momentum.
After Fleisher retired Morrisville in order in the bottom of the sixth, the Mustangs added one more run in the seventh before she got a line out to right field to end the game and secure the win.
GAME 2
Penn State Harrisburg kept things rolling in game two of Saturday's conference twin bill, posting the team's highest run total of the season and getting a great effort from Mary-Kate Penczkowski inside the circle.
Back-to-back doubles from Madelyn Krantz and Steph Reider got things started for the visitors in the top of the first before a Sierra Dixon RBI single scored the game's second run two at-bats later. Krysten Moore got into the scoring act later in the frame when her double plated Sarah Coolbaugh and Dixon to make it 5-0 after one.
It was more of the same in the third for the Blue & White, with Lauren Hess and Moore coming around before a bunt single by Reider allowed Fleisher to race down the line and score another run. Fleisher scored for a second time in the contest thanks to a passed ball in the fifth and Reider put an exclamation point on the scoring by hitting the team's first home run of the season.
Penczkowski had a top-notch outing and kept the Mustangs off balance all game long. She allowed just six hits, surrendered no runs, and struck out six batters.
NOTABLES:
- The game-two victory saw the Lions reach the double-digit run total for the first time this spring.
- Steph Reider had an outstanding afternoon at the plate, going 7-for-8 with a home run, four doubles, four RBI, and four runs scored.
- Reider, Courtney Fleisher, Madelyn Pyle, Delaney Nevius, and Emma Einarson each had multi-hit efforts in the opener.
- Reider, Fleisher, Nevius, and Madelyn Krantz combined for 11 hits, including five of the extra-base variety, in game two.
- Fleisher scored five total runs from the leadoff spot across both contests.
- Mary-Kate Penczkowski earned her third win of the season in impressive fashion, allowing no runs on six hits and one walk. She also racked up six strikeouts.
- Penn State Harrisburg has won four games in a row.
WHO'S NEXT?
With Monday's doubleheader against Wilson now rescheduled for May 1, the Lions will return to action on Thursday when they host Penn State Berks for NEAC doubleheader action at Courtney Pollock Memorial Field.