MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – Thanks to late-game heroics from Madelyn Lehigh and Rylee Martinez, Penn State Harrisburg's softball team split with United East rival Penn State Berks in doubleheader action at Courtney Pollock Memorial Field on Friday afternoon, May 5. The hometown Lions took game one 2-1 before the visitors responded with an 8-0 victory in the nightcap.

GAME 1

Madelyn Lehigh roped the game-tying triple and Rylee Martinez walked it off with the game-winning single to give Penn State Harrisburg (23-14, 15-8 United East) a 2-1 victory over Penn State Berks (23-8, 18-5 United East) in the opening contest of Friday's doubleheader.

Lehigh had three hits, while Martinez also had a multi-hit outing. Mackenzie Sawdey struck out six batters and Carissa Yeager earned her fifth of the season inside the circle.

Trailing 1-0 and down to their last out, the Lions got a jolt when pinch-hitter Emma Einarson hit a single to the left side of the infield before Lauren Hess re-entered as a runner at first base. Facing a 1-2 count, Lehigh smoked a double into the gap in left center, scoring Hess from first and setting up Martinez for the biggest hit of her young career. The freshman fought off a couple of two-strike pitches before lofting a base knock over the arms of an outstretched Savannah Wilson at shortstop to plate Lehigh and give Penn State Harrisburg a thrilling walk-off win.

GAME 2

Penn State Berks (24-8, 19-5 United East) used a big fifth inning to end an 8-0 win over Penn State Harrisburg (23-15, 15-9 United East) early in the final game of Friday's doubleheader.

Madelyn Lehigh and Rylee Martinez each had two-hit games to lead the way at the plate and account for the team's four hits.

The visitors opened the game with a lead-off double and single in back-to-back at-bats to take an early lead before tacking on another run in the top of the first inning. Penn State Harrisburg got a runner into scoring position in the fourth but couldn't take advantage and stranded her at second base.

Penn State Berks erupted in the ensuing half, using six hits, including three doubles, to score six runs in the fifth. The home team put together a two-out rally in the bottom half and loaded the bases but ultimately could not plate the run that would extend the contest.

NOTABLES

- Penn State Harrisburg completed the regular season 23-15 overall and 15-9 in United East play.

- Lehigh went 3-for-4 with a triple, a run scored, and an RBI in the opener.

- Martinez was 2-for-4 with an RBI in game one.

- Sawdey got the start in the first outing and struck out six to go along with just one earned run on four hits.

- Yeager earned the win in the opening game, allowing just one hit in the final 2.1 innings.

- Lehigh finished 2-for-3 with a double in game two.

- Martinez went 2-for-3 in the second outing.

- Steph Reider worked a pair of walks in the nightcap.

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions earned the No. 3 seed in the upcoming United East Championship Tournament and will face second-seeded Penn State Berks on the campus of top-seeded Penn College in their first postseason game on Monday. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.

STAY CONNECTED

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