DOYLESTOWN, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg's softball team split a pair of games against Delaware Valley on Tuesday night, March 19. The Lions dropped the opener to the Aggies 4-5 before the away team used a clutch seventh inning to escape with a 3-2 victory in the nightcap.  

GAME 1

Delaware Valley (7-2) was up 4-1 going into he sixth inning, before Lauren Hess hit a single up the middle which allowed Olivia Herncane and Elaina Gates to score on the play. Two hitters later, Mackenzie Fisher got hit by a pitch to bring the score to 4-4 going into the final inning. 

Thanks to great defense from the Aggies, Penn State Harrisburg (6-3) went scoreless in the seventh frame. Delaware Valley took advantage of the tie game in the bottom of the seventh and finished the game on top thanks to a double from Yasmine Gonzalez. 

Mackenzie spent the most time in the circle for the Lions, as she went just over four innings and tallied six strikeouts. Carissa Yeager threw the last two frames of the contest and recorded a strikeout of her own. 

GAME 2 

Kierstyn Smith and Madison Karns were locked in a pitcher's duel but Herncane's mighty swing in the final inning provided all the offense Penn State Harrisburg needed in a 3-2 win over Delaware Valley in Tuesday's final outing. 

Smith pitched the entire game for the Blue & White, as she tallied a pair of strikeouts and didn't walk a single batter on the night. 

The Lions were down 1-2 in the top of the seventh frame, but Herncane sent a homer down the left field line to earn two RBI's and give the away team the lead and eventually the win. 

NOTABLES

- Smith earned her first win of the season in the nightcap and struck out two batters in seven innings of play.

- Hess was 3-for-4 with two RBI in the opener. 

- Herncane was also 3-for-4 in the first outing and she went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI in the second game of the night. 

- Sawdey finished with six strikeouts in a little over four innings pitched in game one. 

- Emily Cutman was a perfect 3-for-3 in game two and tallied a RBI. 

WHO'S NEXT? 

The Lions return home on Saturday afternoon, March 23 when they host a doubleheader against Keystone. The first game of the day will begin at 1 p.m. and both contests will serve as Penn State Harrisburg's youth day celebrations. 

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.