ABINGTON, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's softball team split a pair of games against Penn State Abington on Sunday afternoon, April 7. The Lions came away with the victory in the opener 5-3, before dropping a 5-2 decision to Penn State Abington in the nightcap.   

GAME 1

Penn State Harrisburg (13-7, 3-3 United East) got one on the board early in the top of the first inning when Cara Biesecker singled to center field which allowed Madelyn Lehigh to score on the play. Penn State Abington (11-11, 5-3 UE) answered two innings later off a single from Marlena Hacker that tallied two runs to bring the score to 2-1 in favor of the home team. 

The visiting Lions started to heat up in the seventh inning thanks to a double into left field from Elaina Gates that tied the game 2-2. Penn State Harrisburg continued the momentum in extra innings with Lehigh hitting her second triple to score Emma Einarson and Lauren Hess. Biesecker gave the visiting Lions a three run cushion after she hit a sacrifice fly that allowed Lehigh to score. Penn State Berks tried to answer in the final inning of the afternoon, but it wasn't enough to ultimately beat Penn State Harrisburg. 

Mackenzie Sawdey spent the whole game in the circle for the Lions, as she recorded the win and struck out 11 batters. 

GAME 2

Penn State Abington came out with a vengeance in the nightcap, as they scored five runs in the top of the third inning off of three untimely fielding errors by Penn State Harrisburg. Biesecker and Einarson attempted to rally the visiting Lions by both hitting singles which brought the score to 5-2 in the sixth frame, but Penn State Abington had created too much distance for Penn State Harrisburg to make up. 

Kierstyn Smith and Carissa Yeager both faced 14 batters each during the second contest and Smith tallied four strikeouts, while Yeager recorded three of her own. 

NOTABLES 

- Sawdey recorded her ninth win of the season in the opener, as she pitched a full game and struck out 11 batters. 

- Lehigh went 4-for-4 in game one and tallied a pair of triples and two RBI. 

- In her one at bat, Gates hit a double and earned an RBI. 

- Although Penn State Harrisburg had zero errors in game one, they had five costly miscues in the nightcap. 

- Smith and Yeager both faced the same number of batters in the second contest and together struck out seven batters. 

- Biesecker and Einarson tallied one RBI each in the second game of the day. 

WHO'S NEXT? 

The Lions continue with conference play on Tuesday afternoon, April 9, as they host a doubleheader against Penn State Berks. The first game of the day will begin at 3 p.m. with game two to follow. 

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.