Juniata 8, Penn State Harrisburg 3
Harrisburg Lineup
Humphrey cf, Nevius lf, Bruno ss, Hartman p, DeMatteo 1b, Gochenaur 3b, Krantz c, Coolbaugh 2b, and Dixon rf
Juniata Lineup
Shedlock cf, Ebright 3b, Peck ss, Clark 1b, Miller dp, McLeod c, Chen rf, Pfeffer p, Ulrich lf, and Baran 2b
How It Happened
The Penn State Harrisburg softball team took a break from conference action to take on Juniata College. The Lions would fall in an early hole as the Eagles Ashley Clark hit a three-run homerun. The Blue & White looked to answer in the third inning with a rally started by a single from Katie Humphrey. After Humphrey advanced to second, starting pitcher Allison Hartman drove a single to right field scoring the run.
Juniata would score one run in third and three runs in the fourth to take a 7-1 advantage. The Lions would respond in the fifth inning when Nina Bruno crushed a solo homerun to center field. Bruno has now hit four homeruns this season.
After Juniata added another run in the fifth inning, the Lions found themselves trailing 8-2 entering the seventh inning. Bruno would look to get a rally started by driving a single to left field. Allison Hartman then reached base off an error by the Eagles short stop. With runners on first and second, Kaylee DeMatteo would single over second base, scoring Bruno. Harrisburg would be unable to pull any closer, falling 8-3.
At the Plate
- Nina Bruno led the Lions 3-4 with a solo homerun her fourth of the season
- Katie Humphrey went 1-3 with a walk and a single
- Allison Hartman and Kaylee DeMatteo each recorded an RBI single
In the Circle
- Allison Hartman pitched the complete game allowing eight runs on 12 hits while striking out six batters
Penn State Harrisburg 4, Juniata 3 (8 Innings)
Harrisburg Lineup
Humphrey cf, Nevius lf, Bruno ss, Hartman 1b, DeMatteo dp, Gochenaur 3b, Krantz 2b, Coolbaugh c, Simon rf, and Penczkowski, p
Juniata Lineup
Shedlock cf, Ebright 3b, Clark 1b, Miller p, Peck ss, McLeod c, Chen rf, Pfeffer dp, Ulrich 2b, and King lf
How It Happened
The Lions regrouped from their game one defeat and turned to Mary-Kate Penczkowski to pitch game two. After allowing a run in the first inning, Penczkowski would settle in allowing only three hits in the next five innings while recording three strikeouts.
The Lions would have baserunners in each of the first three innings, but could not level the score trailing 1-0 entering the fourth inning. Allison Hartman led off the inning by drawing a walk. With two outs in the inning Maddie Krantz would single putting runners on first and second. Sarah Coolbaugh then delivered the clutch hit the Lions offense needed, crushing a double into the left center gap allowing both runners to score.
The Lions held the 2-1 lead entering the seventh inning and looked to add a key insurance run. Nina Bruno would lead off the inning with a walk and eventually work her way to third base thanks to a passed ball and later a throwing error by the Eagles short stop. Carlee Gochenaur would rip a ball at the Eagles third baseman and caused a throwing error allowing the Bruno to score.
Juniata College would rally scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game and send it to extra innings for the second straight year. With the international tie breaker rule in effect, Maddie Krantz started on second base to open the eighth inning. Sarah Coolbaugh would lay down a sacrifice bunt to move Krantz to third base. Kaylee Simon would then hit a ball hard at the Eagles short stop allowing the run to score. Juniata would battle back and load the bases with one out in the bottom of the inning. The Eagles' Molly Ulrich would then launched a fly ball in center field that Katie Humphrey would catch deep in center field and come up firing home to the catcher Coolbaugh who put on the tag on the runner tagging up from third base securing the victory.
At the Plate
- Sarah Coolbaugh led the team going 2-3 with two-run double in the fourth inning
- Kaylee Simon went 1-4 and drove in the game winning run in the eighth inning
- Katie Humphrey was 2-4 with a pair of singles
- Carlee Gochenaur drove in a key run in the seventh inning
In the Circle
- Mary-Kate Penczkowski picked her first complete game victory allowing three runs on nine hits while striking out three Eagle batters
Who's Next?
The Lions return to conference action when they travel to face Southern Virginia on Friday April 13 at 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
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