WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Penn College hosted Gallaudet University Thursday afternoon in a NEAC softball double-header. The Wildcats used home field advantage and won two games against the Bison, 10-2 and 10-0. Penn College improved to 14-12 overall, 6-4 NEAC, while Gallaudet fell to 10-18, 2-12.
In game one,
After a scoreless first inning, Penn College was the first to get on the scoreboard in the second inning. With two outs,
Gillian Sinnott ripped a double to left field; and then advanced to third base on a passed ball.
Maddie Wenk was able to bring Sinnott across home plate when she drove a single to right field, to make the game 1-0.
Shayla Bickel drew a walk and Wenk advanced an extra base on a passed ball to put runners on the corners. Wenk crossed home plate on another passed ball to put the Wildcats up 2-0 after two innings.
Penn College tallied one more run in the third inning to go up 3-0. Then the offense caught fire with a 7-run fourth inning. The scoring started with Sinnott and Wenk on base and Bickel at the plate singling to right field to score Sinnott.
Taylor Krow continued with a bunt down the third base line to load the bases.
Chelsea Gray slammed a shot to center field to score 2 RBIs to put the Wildcats up 6-0.
Olivia Hemstock continued by laying down an absolutely perfect bunt to, once again, load the bases for
Kylie Shreiner to single to left field and score Krow.
Taylor Brooks scored the final run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to center field to score Gray and make the game 10-0.
Gallaudet responded with two runs in the fifth inning to close the game to 10-2, but couldn't get closer, and the Wildcats ended the game early with the win.
Sinnott led the Wildcats offense going 3-3 with 2 runs followed by Wenk who went 2-2 with 2 runs and 2 RBIs.
Morgan Heritage (4-7) went the distance on the mound to earn the win with 7 strikeouts and 2 runs (0 earned).
In game two,
The game was a pitchers-duel for the first three innings as both teams struggled to reach the scoreboard. The Wildcats decided to change that with a monster 10-run fourth inning.
Elizabeth Asher began by singling to center field, followed by
Taylor Brooks singling to right field to put runners on the corners.
Shayla Bickel ripped a shot to shortstop, which brought in a run on a throwing error to first base. Then,
Kiana Lukoskie slammed a shot to deep left field for a triple and to score 2 RBIs to make the game 3-0. Lukoskie would go on to score on a passed ball to go up 4-0. After a couple walks, and the bases loaded,
Kylie Shreiner and Asher each drew walks to score a run respectively. Brooks, with the big bat, smacked a single to right field to score 1 RBI, to make the game 7-0. Bickel continued with a single to center field scoring two additional runs. Lukoskie would bring in the final run of the game to go up 10-0.
Gallaudet was unable to score in the top of the fifth inning and the Wildcats would go on to win and end the game early.
Bickel led the offense for the Wildcats going 3-3 at-bat with 2 RBIs and 1 run. Lukoskie added going 2-3 at-bat with 3 RBIs and
Olivia Hemstock followed going 2-3 at-bat with 1 run.
Kassidy Svenson (3-1) picked up the win on the mound for the Wildcats with the shutout and 5 strikeouts.
Penn College returns to action on Saturday, April 20
th, hosting a double-header against NEAC-foe Lancaster Bible College with a 1:00pm first pitch.
