WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Penn College punched its ticket to the NCAA Division III Softball Championships by winning two of three games against Wilson College Saturday in the United East Championship series. The Wildcats lost the opening game, 1-0, before winning the second contest, 2-0, and taking the United East crown with a 13-3 victory in the final game.

The Wildcats (30-10) return to the NCAA Division III postseason for the second time in program history and will learn their regional seeding during Monday's 11 a.m. selection show, which will be streamed on NCAA.com.

In game three,
Penn College struck early in the first inning with three runs off of a one-run double from Lexi Snyder and a two-run double by Mackenzie Weaver. After the Phoenix added a run in the bottom of the first, the Wildcats tacked on one in the second and three in the third to take a 7-1 lead. Grace Lorson's RBI in the second made it 4-1 before Madison Shaffer added a pair with a double to left and Madison Herriman brought in Shaffer with a single to right in the third.

Wilson made it 7-3 with two runs in the fifth before Lorson launched a solo shot to center, and Fayth Anderson picked up an RBI single, in the sixth to give PCT a 9-3 advantage. The Wildcats plated four runs in the seventh with a sacrifice from Snyder, a single by Weaver, Hailey DeBrody's double, and an error.

Herriman led Penn College at the plate with four hits, while Lorson, Weaver, and Morder added three, and Margaret Mangene, Snyder, and Shaffer finished with two hits. Weaver, who was named the tournament MVP, drove in a game-high three runs, while improving to 16-8 in circle with a complete-game effort. She allowed three earned runs, on six hits, with two strikeouts, and one walk.

In game two,
Herriman gave the Wildcats a 1-0 lead when her single in the fifth brought in Shaffer. The Wildcats added an insurance run in the seventh after Lorson drove in Herriman with a double to left.

Herriman finished with three hits for Penn College and Mangene added a pair. Fayth Anderson improved to 13-2 after a seven-inning shutout. She scattered four hits, with three strikeouts.

In game one,
After a scoreless seven innings, Wilson added a run in the top of the eighth inning and prevented the Wildcats from plating a run in the bottom of the frame. Penn College had its best opportunity of runs in the fourth with runners on first and second, with one out, but Wilson got the final two outs of the inning.

Mangene, Snyder, Weaver, and Morder all picked up a hit for the Wildcats. Weaver fell to 15-8 after a complete game. She surrendered six hits, with seven strikeouts, no walks, on no earned runs.