HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona softball team hit the road for its final non-conference game of the 2024 season on Thursday afternoon, when the Lions rallied for a 6-4 victory over Juniata College at West End Field.

Penn State Altoona (15-15) trailed 4-2 after four innings, but the Lions scored two in the fifth to tie the game, then proceeded to plate two more in the sixth to jump ahead and ultimately deal Juniata (18-15) the loss. Bats were hot for both teams, as the Lions and Eagles combined for 25 hits in the contest.

Brooke Colledge (Everett, PA/Everett) went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored, and one run batted in, while Alyssa Fisher (Lock Haven, PA/Central Mountain) also finished 3-for-4 with a double, ab RBI, and a run scored.

Madalyn Maynard (Towanda, PA/Towanda) hit 2-for-3 with a run scored and a walk. Hanna Lauck (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte) finished 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI, and Karli Storm (Chest Springs, PA/Cambria Heights) was also 2-for-4.

Cameryn Feathers (Martinsburg, PA/Central) hit her third home run of the season and tallied two RBI, two runs scored, and one walk.

In the pitching circle, Josselyn Nau (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte) got the start and finished with a no decision after going three innings. Maynard took over in relief and registered her fifth win of the season, tossing four scoreless innings while allowing only three hits and striking out two batters.

A base hit and a long ball led to Penn State Altoona plating a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Fisher led off with a single to center to put a runner on base, and after a fielder's choice, Feathers hit a two-run homer to center to put the Lions on the board.

Juniata got a run back in the bottom half of the first on a two-out RBI single from Morgan Brumbaugh. The Eagles proceeded to jump ahead in the third, as three straight run-scoring singles from Brumbaugh, Emily Eutsey, and Reagan Goldsmith gave the home team a 4-2 advantage.

Penn State Altoona was able to even the score in the top of the fifth. Back-to-back singles from Fisher and Colledge started the frame, and one batter later, Lauck's two-run double to left center tied the score at 4-4.

The Lions reclaimed the lead in the top of the sixth, helped by a pair of two-out doubles. Maynard started the inning with a base hit through the left side, then moved up to second on a groundout. One out later, Fisher doubled to center to score Maynard, and Colledge followed with an RBI double down the left-field line to bring in Fisher, giving Penn State Altoona a 6-4 advantage.

The Lions threatened to expand their lead in the top of the seventh, when the visitors loaded the bases with one out on singles by Lauck, Storm, and Maynard. But Juniata escaped the inning unscathed by turning a double play.

The Eagles got a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh, bringing the potential tying run to the plate. But Maynard and the Lions got a fielder's choice groundout and two pop ups after that, ending the game to clinch a two-run victory for Penn State Altoona.

With its last non-conference game now behind it, the Penn State Altoona softball team will focus on Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference play for the rest of its schedule. Next up is the Lions' final home doubleheader of the season this Saturday, April 27, when Penn State Altoona will host Hilbert College for a set of games beginning at 1 p.m.

The softball team will recognize its two seniors, Colledge and Feathers, in a pregame senior day ceremony prior to the first pitch of game one on Saturday.