MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's softball team earned a crucial conference victory over United East-leading Penn College at Courtney Pollock Memorial Field on Tuesday afternoon, splitting a doubleheader with the Wildcats. The Lions held on for a 4-3 win in the opener before being edged 2-1 in the nightcap. Madelyn Krantz and Steph Reider each reached the 100-hit mark for their careers in the game-one victory.

GAME 1

Penn State Harrisburg (24-9, 18-3 United) picked up a valuable 4-3 victory over the conference leaders from Penn College (23-7, 19-2 United East) in the opening contest of a United East doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon.

Steph Reider went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Madeline English and Delaney Nevius drove in one run apiece, while Madelyn Lehigh, Olivia Herncane, and Samantha Weaver each scored a run. Carissa Yeager earned her 18th win of the season inside the circle. 

Patience paid off for the Lions in the bottom of the first, as the home team worked three walks and used two hits and a pair of wild pitches to score three runs. Lehigh plated the game's first run on an errant pitch, Reider scored from third on a Madeline English fielder's choice, and Nevius drove in Herncane with a two-out single to center field

After Weaver worked a lead-off walk to begin the bottom of the second, Reider drove her in with a two-out single to right field, making it 4-0 Penn State Harrisburg after two innings of play. 

The Wildcats did just enough to score one run each in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, respectively, but Yeager did a stellar job of working out of trouble and stranding runners before closing things out with a 1-2-3 top of the seventh. 

GAME 2

Penn State Harrisburg (24-10, 18-4 United East) nearly pulled off the doubleheader sweep of Penn College (24-7, 20-2 United East) but was edged in the final frame by the defending conference champs in Tuesday's nightcap. 

Madelyn Lehigh went 2-for-2 with a double and two walks, while Emma Einarson drove in the Lions' lone run which was scored by Madelyn Krantz. Mary-Kate Penczkowski turned in a strong effort inside the circle, scattering seven hits and allowing just two runs.

The visitors got on the board first in the top of the third but the Blue & White answered back in the bottom half when Einarson worked a bases-loaded walk after Krantz, Lehigh, and Steph Reider all reached base with two outs. 

The Wildcats pulled ahead for the second time thanks to a two-out RBI double in the top of the sixth. The Lions had chances to draw even and potentially take the lead but Penn College was able to strand five runners in scoring position in the final stanzas to escape with the win.

NOTABLES

- Steph Reider went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored in the opener.

- Maddy Lehigh was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored in game one.

- Madeline English and Delaney Nevius each dove in a run the first outing.

- Carissa Yeager threw a complete game and scattered seven hits in earning her 18th victory of the year. 

- Game two saw Lehigh go 2-for-2 with a double and two walks.

- Madelyn Krantz scored the team's lone run in the nightcap thanks to Emma Einarson's bases-loaded walk in the third inning.

- Reider and Krantz each reached the 100-hit mark for their careers during the game-one win.

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions head to Penn State Berks for another key conference doubleheader on Friday afternoon.

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