MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Penn State Harrisburg's softball team wrapped up its spring break competition in South Carolina with a pair of convincing victories on Tuesday afternoon, March 5. The Lions opened the day with a 14-0 shutout win over St. Elizabeth before blanking Cedar Crest 12-0 in the nightcap.
GAME 1
Penn State Harrisburg (4-1) left no doubt in a 14-0, five-inning win over St. Elizabeth (1-4) in the team's first outing on Tuesday.
The Lions reeled off five runs in the first inning and another five in the second stanza. Olivia Herncane got the scoring started with an RBI single that plated Madelyn Lehigh before Sierra Sims' bases-loaded walk doubled the advantage. Emma Einarson's RBI groundout drove in Cara Biesecker and Lillian Feltenberger doubled to score Herncane and Sims.
Things played out similarly in the second, with Herncane recording her second RBI single, this time scoring Mackenzie Fisher. Sims singled to drive in Lehigh before Einarson's infield hit pushed Biesecker across. Herncane eventually scored on a fielder's choice before a St. Elizabeth error allowed Sims to come across.
Mackenzie Sawdey recorded six straight outs in the bottom of the second and third, respectively, before the offense went back to work in the fourth, tallying four more runs to extend the lead to 14. Sawdey followed it up by striking out the side in the bottom of the fifth to seal the game.
GAME 2
Penn State Harrisburg (5-1) scored early and often, using a massive second inning to run away with a 12-0 victory Cedar Crest (0-4) in the team's final game of spring break on Tuesday afternoon.
Cara Biesecker got the scoring started with an RBI single that plated Madelyn Lehigh in the top of the first after the latter opened the game with a lead-off walk. The Lions blew the game wide open and put things out of reach early on when they racked up eight runs on five hits and three Cedar Crest errors in the top of the second.
A pair of insurance runs were added in the top of third when an Aspen Walker fielder's choice allowed Elaina Gates to cross before Lehigh scored on the second error of the inning by the Falcons.
Jocelyn Bennett put a cap on the game's scoring when she singled to center field in the fourth, scoring Carissa Yeager in the process.
NOTABLES
- Biesecker finished 3-for-3 with two runs scored, an RBI, and a walk in game one.
- Herncane was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored against St. Elizabeth.
- Sims went 1-for-1 with two runs and RBI in the first contest.
- Feltenberger drove in a game-high three runs in the opener.
- Sawdey earned the win inside the circle and struck out seven in the first game.
- Yeager got the win in game two, allowing just two hits and two walks with five strikeouts in five innings of work.
- Lehigh finished 2-for-2 with a walk and three runs scored against Cedar Crest.
- Biesecker went 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored in the second outing.
- Herncane and Yeager drove in two runs each in the nightcap.
WHO'S NEXT?
The Lions host York (Pa.) for doubleheader action in the team's home opener on Tuesday afternoon, March 12.
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