MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – Penn State Harrisburg's softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with Widener at Courtney Pollock Memorial Field on Tuesday afternoon, April 16. The Lions were shut out 5-0 in the opener but returned the favor with a convincing 6-0 victory in the nightcap.
GAME 1
The Lions (18-9) struggled to get the bats going in the opener, while Widener (10-11) came through with timely hits to put an end to Penn State Harrisburg's recent five-game win streak. Aspen Walker had a two-hit outing and Carissa Yeager threw 3.2 innings of scoreless ball.
Penn State Harrisburg was unable to take advantage of a pair of first-inning hits and the Pride took advantage with three runs in the top of the second. The visitors added to their advantage with a two-out, two-RBI double in the top of the fourth and despite the Lions getting three baserunners across the next three frames, they were unable to push any across.
GAME 2
After dropping game one, Penn State Harrisburg (19-9) bounced back nicely in a shutout victory over the Pride (10-12) in Tuesday's finale. Madelyn Lehigh was 4-for-4 and finished a double shy of the cycle, while Kierstyn Smith was stellar inside the circle en route to earning the win.
Lehigh led off the bottom of the first with a triple to straightaway center and Cara Biesecker drove her in with an RBI single to left field two at-bats later. Aspen Walker laced a double to left field that plated Mackenzie Fisher and Biesecker, while a Sierra Sims sacrifice fly drove in Walker to give the home team an early 4-0 advantage.
The Lions threatened again in the fourth but the visitors worked out of a jam with a timely double play. Smith picked up her offense by cruising through the middle innings, allowing just a single baserunner in each of the fourth, fifth, and sixth frames.
Lehigh rewarded Smith's efforts in the bottom of the sixth after the pitcher singled to right field, allowing Lehigh to step to the plate with two away. The latter smoked a 1-1 offering over the fence in right field and her third long ball of the spring gave Penn State Harrisburg all the insurance it needed as Smith recorded a pair of strikeouts in the top of the seventh before Lauren Hess ended the game with a putout in center field.
NOTABLES
- Yeager allowed no runs on five hits and struck out three in 3.2 innings of relief in game one. She also matched the program record for career appearances with 70.
- Walker was the lone Penn State Harrisburg batter to have a multi-hit opener, finishing 2-for-3.
- Lehigh finished 4-for-4 with a home run, a triple, two singles, two RBI, and two runs scored in the nightcap.
- Smith earned the complete game shutout victory in game two, surrendering no runs, allowing just six hits, and striking out seven batters. She also went 2-for-3 at the dish and scored a run.
- Walker and Herncane each doubled in the finale, with Walker driving in two runs and scoring another.
- Biesecker was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in game two.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions return to conference play when they host United East foe Gallaudet for doubleheader action on Thursday afternoon.
STAY CONNECTED
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