by Kendis Butler '23

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Penn State Harrisburg's softball team competed on their second day in Myrtle Beach, S.C. against Cedar Crest and Ursinus on Monday, March 6. The Lions opened the day with a 6-0 victory against the Falcons before falling to the Bears 13-2 in their final outing of the evening. 

GAME 1

The Blue & White commanded the scoring column in the win over Cedar Crest, as they scored all of the game's six runs. Madelyn Lehigh started things off for Penn State Harrisburg in the first inning when she crossed the dish thanks to a Falcons wild pitch. Shortly after that, Rylee Martinez doubled down the left field line which allowed Mackenzie Fisher to score the Lions' second run of the contest. 

Penn State Harrisburg started rolling in the bottom of the fourth by scoring three straight runs behind a Lehigh single, a Fisher single, and a Reider double that all landed in center field. The last run of the game materialized on a Krys Moore ground ball that the Falcons were unable to corrall at first base, enabling Emma Einarson to score on the throw. 

Mackenzie Sawdey earned her second win of the season for the Lions inside the circle, as she only allowed four hits and produced five strikeouts against 30 batters faced. 

GAME 2

Ursinus started things up in the second inning when Allyson Meakim singled up the middle before posting the first run of the game. In the third and fourth innings, the Lions had several defensive miscues that led to seven unearned runs for the Bears, putting Ursinus ahead 8-2. 

In the fourth inning, Penn State Harrisburg scored their two runs off a Madeline English single that allowed Alexus Brown and Reider to cross home plate. Ursinus answered with a grand slam from Kayla Carr in the final inning, which put the contest out of reach for the Blue & White. 

Three different players appeared on the mound for the Lions, with Sawdey going a little more than three innings and Kierstyn Smith and Carissa Yeager covering the rest. 

NOTABLES 

- Over both games, Reider produced two hits, two doubles, a run, and an RBI. 

- Lehigh went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs in the game-one victory. 

- Sawdey earned the win in game one as she struck out five batters. 

- Against Cedar Crest, Fisher was 3-for-4 with a pair of runs and an RBI. 

- Martinez finished 2-for-3 and added an RBI against the Falcons. 

- In the first contest, Moore and Einarson each contributed a run and a hit. 

- English helped the Lions score their only two runs against Ursinus with a hit and two RBI. 

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions continue their stay in South Carolina by facing off against Bridgewater State at 9 a.m. and Medaille at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7. 

STAY CONNECTED

Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.