By: Kendis Butler 

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's softball team swept a conference doubleheader over United East foe Gallaudet on Saturday afternoon, April 8. The Lions won the opener 7-1 before wrapping things up early with a 14-6 victory in five innings in the nightcap.

GAME 1

Penn State Harrisburg (15-6, 7-0 United East) never trailed in a 7-1 victory over Gallaudet (11-14, 5-6 United East) in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader.

Sawdey threw a complete-game, while striking out a career-high 11 batters and only allowing two hits to earn her eighth win of the season inside the circle. Rylee Martinez hit two doubles and had three RBI, while Kierstyn Smith added a double and an RBI of her own. Olivia Herncane, Madeline English, and Emma Einarson each had one RBI for the Lions.

The Lions got out two a 4-0 start through the bottom of the third which started with a double from Martinez in the first inning, followed by Smith's double to left field in the second frame. Penn State Harrisburg scored two more off of English and Einarson's singles to left field in the third inning.

The Bison added a run of their own in the top of the fifth, but the Lions answered soon after when Martinez lined out to short stop and Herncane provided a sacrifice fly to end the game 6-1 in favor of the home team.

GAME 2

Penn State Harrisburg (16-6, 8-0 United East) racked up 10 hits in just five innings in route to a 14-6 victory to complete the sweep of Gallaudet (11-15, 5-7 United East) on Saturday afternoon.

Elaina Gates had a double and two RBI, while Madelyn Leigh hit a triple and added an RBI of her own. Nine different Lions ran in one or more batters in the nightcap including Gates (2), Lehigh, Kierstyn Smith, Krys Moore (2), Rylee Martinez, Lalaine Castellon, Olivia Herncane, Madeline English, and Emma Einarson (4). Kierstyn Smith earned her sixth win of the year inside the circle after striking out three batters and Carissa Yeager ended the final inning of the game.

Gallaudet got ahead early 1-0 with a single into right field, before Penn State Harrisburg racked up seven runs in the first inning. The scoring began with a single from both Martinez and Herncane, and increased when Einarson earned a walk with the bases loaded. Gates hit a double, Lehigh walked, and Smith singled to cap the inning with three more runs.

The Bison shortened the deficit by four in the third inning, but once again the Lions answered right away thanks to efficient hitting from Moore and Einarson and solid base running as a whole for Penn State Harrisburg. In the last two inning of the contest, Gallaudet scored three more runs, but it wasn't enough to erase the seven-run advantage by the Blue & White.

NOTABLES

- Martinez went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, three RBI, and a walk in the opener.
- Smith had a double and a RBI in game one.
- Sawdey got the win in the first outing, striking out a career-high 11 batters.
- Herncane, English, and Einarson all added an RBI each in the first contest.
- Smith went 2-for-2 with an RBI in game two.
- Martinez went 2-for-3 again in the nightcap, with an RBI and two runs scored.
- Three Lions had multiple-RBI games in second outing, as Moore and Gates earned two and Einarson added four.
- Smith picked up her sixth win inside the circle in game two and she struck out three batters.

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions are hosting another United East doubleheader contest on Tuesday, April 11 against Penn College at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

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