Penn State Harrisburg 4, Gwynedd Mercy 3
Harrisburg Lineup
Humphrey cf, Coolbaugh 2b, Bruno ss, Hartman p, Gochenaur 3b, Nevius lf, DeMatteo 1b, Dixon rf and Krantz c
Gwynedd Mercy Lineup
Christoffers ss, Waller 3b, A. Clark c, Sherwood cf, Cowan lf, E. Clark dp, Briggs 1b, Polly rf, Kinal 2b, Gartner p
How It Happened
The Penn State Harrisburg softball team battled Gwynedd Mercy University in a non-conference double header on Wednesday March 26.
Both offenses got off to slow starts, thanks in part to Lions starting pitcher Allison Hartman. Hartman kept Gwynedd Mercy scoreless through the first three innings, recording four strikeouts.
The Griffins took advantage of a leadoff triple, taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning. The Lions would answer back in the bottom of the fourth inning with a rally started with a double to right field by Nina Bruno. Hartman followed with a double to left field, driving in Bruno. Later in the inning, Kaylee DeMatteo drove a single down the right field line, scoring Hartman and tying the game at two.
After Gwynedd Mercy recaptured the lead in the top of the fifth inning, Harrisburg would once again answer right back. Maddie Krantz led off the inning by drawing a walk. After Krantz advanced to second, Sarah Coolbaugh would deliver an RBI double into left center field, tying the game at three. The Lions would load the bases, but were unable to capture their first lead of the game.
The game would remained tied entering the seventh inning. Hartman struck out two batters and forced a lineout to give the Lions a chance to win the game in the bottom of the inning. Coolbaugh would get on base by doubling off the left field fence. Bruno would then deliver a walk-off single into right center field, giving Harrisburg a 4-3 victory.
At the Plate
- Nina Bruno led the Lions going 3-4 including a walk-off single
- Sarah Coolbaugh went 2-4 with a pair of doubles
- Allison Hartman drove in the game's first RBI with a double
In the Circle
- Allison Hartman picked up her seventh win of the season allowing 3 runs, 0 earned runs, on 4 hits while striking out six Griffins
Penn State Harrisburg 8, Gwynedd Mercy 3
Harrisburg Lineup
Humphrey cf, Coolbaugh c, Bruno ss, Hartman 1b, Nevius lf, Gochenaur 3b, Simon p, Dixon rf and Krantz 2b
Gwynedd Mercy Lineup
Christoffers ss, Waller 2b, A. Clark c, Cowan, E. Clark, Sherwood cf, Polly lf, Floyd 1b, Craig rf, and Gartner p
How It Happened
Gwynedd Mercy jumped out to an early lead, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. The Lions offense would respond with a massive rally in the bottom of the first inning. Katie Humphrey led off the inning with a single to short stop and then advance to second on a wild pitch. Nina Bruno would then hit a sharp ground ball at the Griffin's short stop allowing Humphrey to score. After a walk by Hartman and a single from Carlee Gochenaur, Kaylee Simon would reach on an error by the Griffin's right fielder allowing Hartman and Delaney Nevius to score. Sierra Dixon would then reach on an error by the Griffin's pitcher, scoring a run and putting Harrisburg ahead 4-2.
The Blue & White's offense would get rolling again in the fourth inning. Simon started the inning with a leadoff single. Dixon would reach base on a field error by the short stop and Maddie Krantz would single to left field to load the bases. Humphrey drove a double into left center, driving in a pair of runs. Later in the inning, Bruno would ground out to second base, allowing Humphrey to score. Allison Hartman recorded her second hit of the game with a single, driving in a run and putting Harrisburg ahead 8-2.
Harrisburg's starting pitcher Simon would throw the first four innings, allowing a pair of runs on three hits while striking out five Griffins batters. Mary-Kate Penczkowski would come in relief, pitching the final three innings, holding Gwynedd Mercy to one run on three hits to close out the Lions 8-3 victory.
At the Plate
- Allison Hartman led the Lions going 3-3 with a double and a RBI
- Katie Humphrey went 2-4 with a 2-run double in the fourth inning
- Nina Bruno added two RBI's
- The Lions capitalized on five Griffins errors
In the Circle
- Kaylee Simon earned her second win of the season pitching 4 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits while striking out 5 Griffins
- Mary-Kate Penczkowski came on in relief, pitching 3 innings allowing 1 run on 3 hits
Who's Next?
The Lions will return to the diamond on Thursday March 28, when they travel to Wilson College at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
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