LATHAM, N.Y. - Five Penn State Harrisburg softball players have earned United East All-Conference recognition, with Madelyn Lehigh and Mackenzie Sawdey leading the way as all-conference first-team picks. Sawdey was also named the conference's rookie of the year.

Lehigh and Sawdey earned all-conference first-team honors, while Elaina Gates, Krys Moore, and Kierstyn Smith were named to the all-conference second team.

Lehigh won the United East batting title and turned in one of the best offensive seasons of any player in the country this season. The sophomore ranks top-10 in the nation with a conference-leading .509 batting average and .575 on-base percentage. She also ranks top-20 among all Division III players with an .827 slugging percentage and leads the United East with a 1.402 OPS. Despite missing nine games, the Harrisburg, Pa. native racked up 56 hits, including 14 doubles, six triples, and three home runs. The shortstop scored 41 runs, drove in 23 more, walked 16 times, and tallied 91 total bases.

Sawdey joined teammates Steph Reider (2021) and Lehigh (2022) as the third straight Penn State Harrisburg player to earn United East Rookie of the Year honors after an outstanding freshman campaign inside the circle. The Halifax, Pa. native led the United East with 136 strikeouts and ranked third among conference pitchers with a 2.07 ERA. The hurler made 29 appearances, threw 138.2 innings, and earned 12 wins to go along with a pair of saves. She set the program's single-season record for strikeouts and was named the United East Pitcher of the Week in early April.

Gates turned in a memorable rookie season that saw her appear in 41 games as a freshman. The outfielder scored 20 runs and tallied 17 hits, including a pair of doubles, to go along with seven RBI, a dozen walks, and four stolen bases. The Marysville, Pa. native was also stellar in the field, flashing the leather and recording 57 putouts with one assist while recording an impressive .983 fielding percentage. 

Moore had a breakout senior season and appeared in a single-season program-record 42 games this spring. The Spring Grove, Pa. native slashed .277/.357/.475 and racked up 28 hits, including 10 extra-base knocks. The corner outfielder led the team with four home runs and added four doubles and a pair of triples. She scored 22 runs and drove in 15 more to go along with 11 walks and four stolen bases. 

Smith's versatility was on display throughout her rookie campaign. At the plate, the Millersburg, Pa. native recorded 26 hits, including four doubles, scored 15 runs, and drove in 14 more. The utility player also made 19 appearances inside the circle this season with nine starts. She won eight games and posted a 3.59 ERA to go along with four complete games and 27 strikeouts. For her efforts, she was named the United East Pitcher of the Week in late March.