AURORA, N.Y. - Penn State Harrisburg's softball team completed the season sweep of United East foe Wells with a pair of five-inning victories on Saturday afternoon, April 15. The Lions rolled to 15-0 shutout victory in the opening contest before completing the doubleheader sweep with a 13-1 win. 

GAME 1

Penn State Harrisburg (17-8, 9-2 United East) put up multiple runs in every inning but one during a 15-0 five-inning victory at Wells (0-23, 0-15 United East) in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader.

Reigning United East Pitcher of the Week Mackenzie Sawdey earned the complete-game shutout victory, allowing just two hits and a pair of walks to go along with seven strikeouts. Steph Reider had a massive game at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double, six RBI, and two runs scored. Madeline English had three hits, including two doubles, and Mackenzie Fisher also had a multi-hit outing.

The Lions got things started when Krys Moore's bases-loaded walk in the first frame pushed Fisher across. English drove in two more runs with a double that plated Kierstyn Smith and Reider. In the second, Reider doubled the lead with a bases-loaded double to center field before driving in two more in the top of the third. 

The biggest inning of the opener came in the fourth when Penn State Harrisburg took advantage of a pair of errors and used four hits to put up six more runs and put things out of reach for good.

GAME 2

Penn State Harrisburg (18-8, 10-2 United East) finished off the season sweep of Wells (0-24, 0-16) with a convincing 13-1 victory in the final outing of Saturday's doubleheader. 

Madelyn Lehigh had a big game, going 3-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBI. Kierstyn Smith also had a three-hit game, driving in a pair of runs and scoring two more. Carissa Yeager threw four scoreless innings en route to earning the victory. 

The Lions walked four times in the first stanza, took advantage of a Wells error, and used three singles to put up six runs and set the tone early. Lehigh drove in a pair during the opening frame thanks to a two-out, bases-loaded single to right field.

After a scoreless second, the visitors put up six runs in an inning for the second time. The Lions racked up five more hits and made Wells pay for another error by recording another six spot in the inning.

Kierstyn Smith provided some insurance when her single to center field allowed Lehigh to come across in the top of the fourth. The Express scored their lone run of the afternoon in the bottom of the fifth but Smith settled in and worked a strikeout to end the game. 

NOTABLES

- Reider finished 4-for-4 with a double, six RBI, and a pair of runs scored in game one.

- English went 3-for-3 with two doubles, two runs scored, and a pair of RBI in the first outing.

- Elaina Gates was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI in the opening contest.

- Fisher scored a pair of runs and Moore walked three times in the opener.

- Sawdey got the win in game one, striking out seven and allowing just two hits.

- Lehigh finished 3-for-3 with a walk, three runs scored, and two RBI in game two.

- Smith was 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI in the final outing.

- Yeager went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in the finale.

- Leah Macaluso and Emma Einarson each drove in a pair of runs in the nightcap. 

- Yeager earned the win and did not allow a hit in four innings of work

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions return to action when they travel to Penn State Berks for another key conference doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon.

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