MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Penn State Harrisburg's softball team split their first two games of the 2024 campaign against Bridgewater State and Wilkes in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Sunday, March 3. The Lions defeated Bridgewater St. 3-0 in the season opener before dropping a 3-2 decision to Wilkes later in the afternoon. 

GAME 1 

The Lions (1-0) went scoreless until the fifth inning when Mackenzie Fisher singled out to left field and sent Elaina Gates home to tally Penn State Harrisburg's first run of the 2024 season. Aspen Walker, who was the very next batter up for the Blue & White, hit a single of her own to increase the lead to 2-0 in the top of the fifth. 

Bridgewater State (0-1) struggled to find momentum throughout the contest due to solid pitching from Penn State Harrisburg's Mackenzie Sawdey who allowed just four hits and struck out nine batters in a complete seven-inning effort. 

In the top of the seventh stanza, Lauren Hess crossed home plate off of a throwing error from the Bears to go up 3-0 before giving Bridgewater State one last chance to get back in the contest. Sawdey had a key strikeout and Fisher gloved two pop-ups from her second base position to secure the victory for the Lions. 

GAME 2

Penn State Harrisburg (1-1) struck first but couldn't hold the lead in the team's narrow 3-2 setback against Wilkes in the final contest of the team's opening day on Sunday afternoon. 

Fisher plated the game's first run after Walker, Olivia Herncane, and Cara Biesecker each singled behind her in the top of the first. The Lions eventually doubled their advantage in the top of the fifth when a Herncane RBI single drove in Walker to make it 2-0. 

The Colonels (2-0) came to life in the bottom half of the stanza, however, and plated all three of their runs in the frame. Penn State Harrisburg got a runner on base in each of the final two innings but couldn't string together enough hits to tie the game. 

NOTABLES

- Fisher went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI in the opener.

- Hess, Biesecker, and Elaina Gates each scored a run in the first contest. 

- Sawdey was excellent in her first outing of the spring, throwing a complete game and surrendering just four hits to go along with nine strikeouts.

- Walker went 3-for-4 with a run scored in the second outing.

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions are back in action with two more games on Monday. They'll face Wilson at 9 a.m. before finishing the day against Centenary (N.J.) at 1 p.m.

STAY CONNECTED 

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