WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's softball team split a pair of contests on the opening day of the United East Championship Tournament hosted by Penn College on Monday afternoon. The Lions fell 1-0 to Penn State Berks in a pitcher's duel in their first outing before staying alive with a 6-1 victory over Penn State Abington in the final game of the day.

GAME 1

Mackenzie Sawdey allowed just one run on five hits but Penn State Harrisburg (23-16) was unable to provide the offense to support her in a narrow 1-0 loss to Penn State Berks (25-8) on Monday afternoon. 

Madelyn Lehigh was the lone Penn State Harrisburg player to have a multi-hit game and the Lions managed just four total hits as a team. 

Penn State Harrisburg's first two batters reached base to open the game as Lehigh singled and Rylee Martinez was hit by a pitch but the Lions were unable to do anything with it. Sawdey worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the fourth and Penn State Harrisburg loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth but again could not push anyone across.

Penn State Berks finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth and used a single, a sacrifice bunt, and a double to score what proved to be the game-winning run and hold on for the narrow win.

GAME 2

Penn State Harrisburg (24-16) punched its ticket to the final day of the United East Championship Tournament with a strong showing in a 6-1 win over Penn State Abington (20-16) in an elimination game on Monday afternoon.

Krys Moore homered, Madelyn Lehigh hit three doubles, and Elaina Gates had a multi-hit outing to lead the way at the plate. Mackenzie Sawdey threw three scoreless innings and Carissa Yeager tossed the final four frames to earn the victory.

Moore got the scoring started with a solo shot to center field in the bottom of the second before a Steph Reider sacrifice fly drove in Lehigh in the bottom of the third.

Penn State Harrisburg put up a crooked number in the fifth, using four hits to plate three runs. Gates got things started with a single and Lehigh followed it up with a double before Mackenzie Fisher loaded up the bases with a walk. Reider struck again with an RBI single and Rylee Martinez drove in a pair with a single of her own.

The Lions tacked on an insurance run in the sixth with a two-out rally that saw Fisher single up the middle and drive in Gates from third. Penn State Abington got one back in the seventh but Yeager shut the door with a game-ending strikeout. 

NOTABLES

- Lehigh went 2-for-4 in the day's first contest.

- Sawdey was excellent in game one, allowing just one run on five hits and one walk in six innings thrown.

- Lehigh finished 3-for-3 with three doubles, a walk, and two runs scored in the second outing.

- Moore's game-two home run was her fourth of the season.

- Reider was 1-for-2 with two RBI in the nightcap.

- Gates went 2-for-3 with two runs scored in the final game.

- Martinez drove in a pair of runs in the win over Penn State Abington. 

- Sawdey allowed just one hit and struck out three in her second start of the day. 

- Yeager threw the final four innings and struck out four to earn her sixth win of the season.

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions take on top-seeded Penn College in an elimination game on Tuesday morning. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.

STAY CONNECTED

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