| Title: | Game Day Manager - Fall |
| Phone: | 717-948-6287 |
| Email: | alb6794@psu.edu |
Mandi Baer, the 2022 United East Softball Coach of the Year, enters her fifth year as Penn State Harrisburg softball head coach in 2023-24.
During her tenure at Penn State Harrisburg, Baer has led the Lions to a pair of conference championship series appearances and three conference postseason tournament berths, while her players have combined for an all-region accolade, three conference rookie of the year awards, and 17 all-conference honors.
Most recently, Baer led Penn State Harrisburg to the United East Championship Game after matching the single-season program record for wins (26) for the second year in a row. Under Baer’s guidance, Maddy Lehigh became the first player in program history to earn all-region recognition when she was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region IV Second Team. Lehigh and teammate Mackenzie Sawdey were named to the United East All-Conference First Team, while Sawdey secured United East Rookie of the Year honors. Elaina Gates, Krys Moore, and Kierstyn Smith were named to the all-conference second team for their efforts.
Baer led the Lions to the most successful season in program history in 2022. Her squad won a program-record 26 games and qualified for the United East (formerly North Eastern Athletic Conference) Tournament for the second straight season. Penn State Harrisburg ranked second in the country in batting average (.387) and on-base percentage (.456), as well as top-10 nationally in runs (331), hits (437), and scoring (8.48). For her efforts, Baer was named the United East Coach of the Year. Under her guidance, Maddy Lehigh earned United East Rookie of the Year honors, while seven players secured all-conference recognition. Lehigh was joined on the all-conference first team by Steph Reider, McKenzie Boozel, Delaney Nevius, and Lauren Hess, while Maddie Krantz and Carissa Yeager earned second-team all-conference accolades.
After her first season was cut short due to COVID-19, Baer led the Lions to the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Championship Series in 2021 after knocking off the three-time defending conference champions from Penn State Berks in the tournament’s semifinal round. That spring, her squad set program records for batting average (.348), slugging percentage (.396), and home runs (10). Under Baer’s guidance, Steph Reider was named NEAC Rookie of the Year after securing first-team all-conference recognition. Courtney Fleisher, Mary-Kate Penczkowski, Delaney Nevius, and Kaylee DeMatteo earned all-conference second-team honors as well.
Her first season at the helm in 2020 was cut unexpectedly short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Lions got in just eight games before the spring season came to an end, with the Blue & White winning a pair of contests during the team’s annual spring break trip to Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Baer took the reins of the program after nearly three years as an assistant at Division II Millersville. She became just the second head coach since the program's inception at Penn State Harrisburg in 2005. During her time in Lancaster, Baer helped the Marauders to a pair of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament berths, including the program's first-ever PSAC postseason appearance in 2016. The following spring, MU's Brittany Smith was named the PSAC East Player of the Year and the 2018 campaign saw Millersville make another run to the PSAC playoffs.
During her standout playing career at Bloomsburg, Baer was a four-year starter. The middle infielder was twice named NFCA Second-Team All-Region following her sophomore and junior campaigns after earning PSAC All-Conference recognition in 2012. For her career, she hit .300 and helped lead the Huskies to three 30-win seasons and four NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to super regionals following her freshman season.
In addition to her coaching experience and playing days, she has also assisted with a variety of softball camps and clinics as an instructor during her time at both Bloomsburg and Millersville.
Baer also serves as a game day manager during the fall season for Penn State Harrisburg’s athletic department. She earned her master's degree in Sports Science and Sports Administration from Lock Haven in 2018 after graduating from Bloomsburg with a bachelor's degree in Psychology in 2014.