MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's softball team secured a United East doubleheader sweep over conference foe Lancaster Bible at Courtney Pollock Memorial Field in thrilling fashion on Wednesday afternoon, outlasting the Chargers 10-9 in 10 innings in the day's first contest before closing things out with a 15-5 victory in five innings in the nightcap.

GAME 1

In a game that went 10 innings and included 27 total hits and 19 total runs, Madelyn Lehigh finally ended things with a walk-off RBI single that scored Mackenzie Sawdey in the bottom of the 10th. Lehigh, Mackenzie Fisher, and Olivia Herncane recorded three hits apiece in the opener, while Sawdey earned the win after racking up nine strikeouts.

After Lancaster Bible (8-14, 2-5 United East) struck first with three runs in the top of the first, the Lions (15-8, 5-4 United East) answered back with a pair in the bottom half thanks to a bases-loaded RBI single from Herncane. 

The Chargers pushed the lead back to three in the top of the second but Penn State Harrisburg pulled ahead for the first time with a two-out rally that included five unearned runs. Aspen Walker tied things up with a two-RBI double before Herncane smashed a two-run home run over the fence in left field. Walker kept things going in the ensuing frame with a sacrifice fly that made it 8-3 after three.

The visitors chipped away throughout the rest of the contest and eventually took advantage of a defensive miscue to pull even in the top of the sixth but Sawdey entered in relief and struck out three straight in the frame to limit the damage and keep things tied. 

In extras, both teams plated a run in the eighth before timely pitching and a key defensive plays led to a scoreless ninth. Sawdey stranded an LBC runner at third in the top of the 10th before being placed at second to begin the bottom half. Lauren Hess moved her to third with a bunt single before Lehigh walked it off with an RBI single up the middle.

GAME 2

After a marathon game one, the Lions (16-8, 6-4 United East) ended things early in the nightcap, tallying 16 hits en route to a 15-5 win that clinched the doubleheader sweep of Lancaster Bible (8-14, 2-6 United East) on Wednesday. 

Maddy Lehigh and Sierra Sims recorded three hits each, Penn State Harrisburg matched single-game program record for triples (four), and Mackenzie Sawdey picked up her second win in as many outings inside the circle. 

The Chargers got on the board first with a lone run in the top of the first but the home team came right back with five of their own in the bottom half. Olivia Herncane tied things up with a sac fly before RBI singles from Aspen Walker, Elaina Gates, and Sims made it 5-1 in the early going.

Cara Biesecker made it 6-1 with a sac fly in the second, while the third inning's scoring came from a Walker solo home run and a two-RBI triple from Lehigh. The Lions put things out of reach thanks to a six-run fourth inning that saw Walker, Gates, Sims, Sawdey, and Biesecker all drive in runs to make it 15-4 through four. 

NOTABLES

- Game two saw Lehigh set the single-season program record for triples (11).

- Penn State Harrisburg's four triples in the nightcap matched the single-game program record.

- Lehigh went 3-for-5 with a double, a walk, and four runs scored in the opener.

- Herncane was 3-for-5 with a home run, four RBI, and a run scored in game one.

- Fisher finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI in the first outing.

- Walker drove in three runs in the opener, while Biesecker also had a multi-hit game one.

- Sawdey earned the win in the first game, throwing five innings of relief and striking out nine. 

- Carissa Yeager was strong in 3.1 innings of relief in the opener, allowing just one earned run.

- Lehigh finished 3-for-4 with a pair of triples, three runs scored, and two RBI in game two.

- Sims went 3-for-3 with a triple, two RBI, and a pair of runs scored in the finale. 

- Walker and Gates drove in a game-high three runs apiece in the second contest.

- Fisher and Lillian Feltenberger also had multi-hit efforts in game two.

- Sawdey allowed just three earned runs on six hits to pick up her 11th win of the spring in the nightcap.

WHO'S NEXT?

The Lions host the United East Volt Division leaders from Penn College for a pivotal conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. 

STAY CONNECTED 

Fans can keep up with Penn State Harrisburg Athletics all season long on Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Threads, and Youtube using the handle @pshbgathletics.