Middletown, Pa. - Amanda Hartman pitched a complete game and then some for the Penn State Harrisburg softball team on their way to an exciting 5-4 eighth inning win over the Stevenson Mustangs on Tuesday March 22nd. The Mustangs responded back strong with an 8-0 win in the final contest of the day.
The Lions started slow and went behind early giving up one run in each of the first two innings. Feeling the pressure, Penn State Harrisburg stepped up big in the bottom of the third inning. After getting the bases loaded with one out, Kristen Evans reached on an error that brought in Rieley Loch and Emily Parmer to tie the game. Erelle Sower grounded out, but still made an impact bringing Hartman home to take a 3-2 lead. Parmer was involved again in the fourth, driving in Kayla Serfert for a little breathing room going into the final stretch.
Stevenson battled back in the 5th scoring once and then again in the seventh tying game at four. The Lions were unable to take the win in the bottom of the seventh, forcing additional innings to determine a winner. Hartman continued her stellar performance through the eighth by shutting down the Mustangs with three straight outs, giving the Blue and White another chance to end the game with a walkoff.
Jasmine Yanich was placed on second base to start the inning due to the extra innings rule and moved to third after a ground out play. The Lions next batter popped out, putting Jenna Rupaku at the plate with the chance to bring home the winning run. Rupaku did not let the pressure phase her as she singled to bring in Yanich for the winning run taking game one of the double header 5-4.
The Mustangs felt the loss personally and got retribution in the second game of the day with the help of pitcher Molly Hoyt who allowed just three hits the entire game. Stevenson scored two in the second, five in the fifth and one run in the sixth to even the series at 1-1 with an 8-0 win.
Penn State Harrisburg is back home again Thursday March 24th when they host the Wilson Phoenix.
