ABINGTON, Pa. – Penn State Harrisburg softball dropped both games of its season-opening doubleheader to Penn State Abington on Saturday afternoon, March 27. The North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) contests marked the program's first games in more than a year. The Lions were defeated 10-0 in the opener before suffering an 11-3 setback in the second outing of the twin bill.  

GAME 1

A couple of errors and a number of unearned runs cost the Blue & White in a 10-0, five-inning loss to Penn State Abington in the first game of their doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.

In the bottom of the second inning, the home team got on the board first thanks to an RBI double from Kourtney Schneider. Later in the stanza, Penn State Abington added two more runs. Abington kept things rolling with singles from Mary Kate Smith and Megan Tomoney, along with a double from Stephanie Andreoli in the third inning that pushed the advantage to 9-0. The home team used an RBI double to stretch the lead to 10-0 in the fourth and Penn State Harrisburg was unable to prolong the contest after failing to score in the top of the fifth frame.

Starting pitcher Mary-Kate Penczkowski struck out one batter, while reliever Sierra Dixon recorded a pair of strikeouts of her own. At the plate, Steph Reider led the way with a pair of hits and Lauren Hess' triple proved Penn State Harrisburg's lone extra-base knock.

GAME 2

More errors and more unearned runs plagued the Lions in an 11-3 loss that remained close until Penn State Abington opened things up by scoring six runs in the bottom of the third inning.

The home team got the scoring started in the bottom of the opening frame but Penn State Harrisburg responded and took its first lead of the day when Courtney Fleisher doubled to center field and scored Steph Reider before Emma Einarson singled to plate Fleisher and put the visitors ahead 2-1. After falling behind in the bottom half, an Abington error allowed Reider to score and draw Penn State Harrisburg even in the top of the third.

Then, in the bottom of the third, Penn State Abington took advantage of three Penn State Harrisburg errors and plated six runs, all of the unearned variety. The visitors managed just two hits the rest of the way before Abington strung together three doubles and scored two runs to end things in the fifth for the second consecutive contest.

NOTABLES:

- Freshman Steph Reider had a memorable debut for Penn State Harrisburg, tallying five total hits on the afternoon.

- Kaylee DeMatteo racked up three hits over the course of both contests.

- Lauren Hess, Courtney Fleisher, and Emma Einarson each recorded one hit on Saturday.

- Fleisher struck out four batters during the second outing.

- Einarson, Fleisher, and Samantha Weaver swiped one bag apiece on Saturday.  

- Penn State Abington's offense was clicking, with six different players recording hits in both contests.

- Abington hit eight doubles across both outings.

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions host Penn State Altoona at Courtney Pollock Memorial Field on Tuesday afternoon, March 30. First pitch of the non-conference doubleheader is scheduled for 3 p.m.