CHESTER, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's softball team split a non-conference doubleheader at Widener on Monday afternoon, April 3. The Lions won the opener 4-2 before falling by the slimmest of margins in a 3-2 setback in the nightcap. 

GAME 1

Penn State Harrisburg tallied four extra-base hits and Mackenzie Sawdey turned in a strong complete-game effort inside the circle in the team's 4-2 victory over Widener on Monday afternoon. 

Sawdey allowed just two runs on two hits and three walks to go along with eight strikeouts. Madelyn Lehigh recorded three hits, including a pair of doubles, while Krys Moore also had a multi-hit outing. 

The Lions (12-5) got on the board first in the top of the opening frame when Leah Macaluso doubled and drove in Lehigh from second base. The visitors added another run in the top of the second when Lehigh doubled to bring Olivia Herncane around with two away.

Penn State Harrisburg stretched the lead to 4-0 in the fourth with two more runs. Moore led off with a double, Lauren Hess moved her to second with a bunt, and Elaina Gates drove her in with an RBI groundout. Lehigh followed with her second double of the game and Kierstyn Smith singled to bring her home. 

The Pride (7-12) cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the fourth but Sawdey allowed just one baserunner in the final three stanzas and retired the home team in order in each of the last two innings. 

GAME 2

Penn State Harrisburg narrowly missed out on securing the doubleheader sweep but Widener scored one run in the bottom of the seventh inning to salvage a split on Monday afternoon.

Madelyn Lehigh hit her second home run of the season, while Lauren Hess had two hits and drove in a run. Kierstyn Smith turned in a strong effort in relief, allowing just one run in 4.1 innings of work. 

The Lions (12-7) jumped out to an early lead when Lehigh led off the game with a home run but Widener (8-12) got things going in the bottom of the third and used three hits to plate two runs and take its first lead of the afternoon.

The visitors put together a two-out rally in the top of the fifth and tied things up when Lauren Hess doubled to left field, allowing Krys Moore to score from first base. 

Penn State Harrisburg moved a runner into scoring position in the top of the seventh but couldn't push a run across and the Pride took advantage in the bottom half, using a two-out shallow fly ball that got down in center field to score the game-winning run from third base.

NOTABLES

- Lehigh finished 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored, and an RBI in the opener.

- Moore went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored in game one. 

- Macaluso doubled and drove in a run in the first contest.

- Sawdey allowed just two runs and struck out eight batters in seven innings of work to earn the win in game one. 

- Hess was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI in game two.

- Lehigh's home run in the nightcap was her second of the season. 

- Smith surrendered just one run on five hits in 4.1 innings of relief in the finale.

WHO'S NEXT? 

The Lions host United East foe Lancaster Bible for a conference doubleheader at Courtney Pollock Memorial Field on Friday afternoon. 

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