Penn State Harrisburg 3, Elizabethtown 1
Harrisburg Lineup
Humphrey cf, Coolbaugh 2b, Bruno ss, Hartman p, DeMatteo 1b, Gochenaur 3b, Nevius lf, Krantz c, and Dixon rf
Elizabethtown Lineup
Johnson lf, Schmidt rf, Varrato ss, Personette c, Phillips 1b, Dark dp, Fitzsimons 2b, Herman cf, and Sergas p
How It Happened
The Penn State Harrisburg Softball team hosted Elizabethtown College in its home opener. The Lions offense would strike early, taking the lead in the first inning. Sarah Coolbaugh would get the rally started, driving a single into right field. Later in the inning, Allison Hartman would crush a double into left field, putting two runners in scoring position. Kaylee DeMatteo would capitalize with a line drive down the third base line that bounced off the Blue Jay's third baseman allowing two runs to score.
With a two run lead Hartman, the starting pitcher, quickly took command of the game retiring the first nine batters she faced. The Blue Jays would get on the board in the fourth inning thanks to a leadoff double from Kady Johnson and a single to center field from Emma Varrato.
Harrisburg would respond in the home half of the inning. After Delaney Nevius drove a single into left field, Sierra Dixon would poke a ball into right field scoring Nevius and giving the Lions a key insurance run.
Hartman and the rest of the Lions defense would dominate the Blue Jay's hitters. Harrisburg's second baseman Coolbaugh would pull off a double play in the fifth inning tagging out a runner, and throwing it to first in time. In the sixth inning with a runner on first, the Blue Jay's ripped a single in center field, but center fielder Katie Humphrey threw out the runner before she could reach third base, halting any comeback attempt.
At the Plate
- Kaylee DeMatteo was 1-2 with a single in the first inning that plated two runs
- Allison Hartman went 2-3 with the Blue & White's only extra base
- Sierra Dixon drove in the Lions other run with a single in the fourth inning
In the Circle
- Allison Hartman continued rolling allowing 1 run on 4 hits. She is now 4-0 this season and holds an ERA of 0.48
Elizabethtown 2, Penn State Harrisburg 1
Harrisburg Lineup
Humphrey cf, Coolbaugh 2b, Bruno ss, Hartman 1b, DeMatteo dp, Gochenaur 3b, Nevius lf, Krantz rf, Simon p, and Roelli c
Elizabethtown Lineup
Meitzler lf, Herman cf, Varrato ss, Phillips 3b, Fasolo c, Witmer 1b, Schmidt rf, Mistichelli dp, Fitzsimons 2b, and Wilkinson p
How It Happened
Using the momentum from their game one victory, the Lions would strike in the first inning of game two. Sarah Coolbaugh worked an at bat drawing a walk. Nina Bruno would follow that up with a double, scoring Coolbaugh. In the second inning with two outs, Maddie Krantz would double to right field to start another rally. Kaylee Simon got hit by a pitch and Katie Humphrey singled to load the bases, but the Lions could not capitalize.
The Blue Jay's took their first lead of the day in the fifth inning, taking advantage of a pair of hits and walks to take a 2-1 lead. Harrisburg struggled to find base runners late in the game being retired in order in the fifth and sixth inning.
Relief pitcher Mary-Kate Penczkowski would keep the Lions within striking distance, holding Elizabethtown scoreless in the sixth and seventh innings. The Blue & White would get the tying run on first base in the seventh inning, but could not drive her in.
At the Plate
- Nina Bruno drove in the Lions only run with a double in the first inning
- Maddie Krantz went 2-2 with a double and also reached base via a walk
- Katie Humphrey recorded the Lions only other hit going 1-4
In the Circle
- Kaylee Simon started the game for the Lions, pitching the first 5 innings allowing 2 runs on 6 hits
- Mary-Kate Penczkowski came on in relief pitching two scoreless innings
Around the Diamond
- Catcher Jessica Roelli moved into third place in school history in runners caught stealing list when she gunned down Courtney Fitzsimons in the third inning
Who's Next?
The Lions will return to the diamond tomorrow, March 14, when they face former Capital Athletic Conference foe Wesley in a doubleheader at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
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