WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona softball team returned to the road on Saturday, when the Lions split a doubleheader with non-conference opponent Penn College at Elm Park.

Penn State Altoona (7-6) pulled out a 7-6, extra-innings win in game one, before being edged 3-2 by Penn College (8-4) on a walkoff in game two.

Game One: Penn State Altoona 7, Penn College 6 (Final/8 innings)

Penn State Altoona established an early lead, getting three runs across in the top of the first inning, but Penn College used a six-run fourth inning to work its way in front. The Lions scored three runs over the next three innings to knot the score at six, forcing extras. Penn State Altoona scored a run in the top of the eighth, then held the Wildcats scoreless in the bottom half of the inning to clinch a win.

Cameryn Feathers (Martinsburg, PA/Central) went 3-for-4 at the plate for the Lions with her second home run of the season, three runs batted in, two runs scored, and a stolen base. Alyssa Fisher (Lock Haven, PA/Central Mountain) also had a three-hit game, finishing 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.

Gianna Hoppel (Lewistown, PA/Mifflin County) recorded two RBI, and Hanna Lauck (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte) also drove in a run for the Lions.

Brianna Bone (Morrisdale, PA/West Branch) started at pitcher and tossed 3 2/3 innings, surrendering four earned runs and finishing with a no decision. Madalyn Maynard (Towanda, PA/Towanda) followed with 4 1/3 scoreless innings and recorded the win, her first collegiate victory in the circle.

Penn State Altoona scored three runs in the top of the first. Fisher and Brooke Colledge (Everett, PA/Everett) started the inning with back-to-back singles, then moved up on a wild pitch. Hoppel's groundout to shortstop brought Fisher home, and Feathers' RBI single to right scored Colledge. One batter later, a Lauck RBI single to right extended the Lions' lead to 3-0.

Penn College awoke for six runs in the bottom of the fourth, when the Wildcats got four run-scoring hits, an error that resulted in another run scoring, and a bases-loaded walk that made it 6-0.

The Lions got a run back in the next half inning. Fisher reached on a single to third, moved up to second base on a groundout, and then scored on Hoppel's two-out RBI single to center.

Penn State Altoona knotted the score in the top of the seventh, thanks to a big swing of the bat with two outs. Fisher started the inning with a double to right, and after two outs, Feathers' two-run homer to right evened the score at 6-6.

Penn College loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Maynard and the Lions got out of the jam with a fly out, and the game advanced to extra innings.

In the top of the eighth, Karli Storm (Chest Springs, PA/Cambria Heights) was the Lions' runner at second to start the frame, and she moved up to third base on a wild pitch with one out. After the Wildcats got another out, an infield error by the home team in the next at-bat allowed Storm to score, and Penn State Altoona took a 7-6 lead into the bottom of the eighth.

Maynard and the Lions put down Penn College in order the home half of the eighth, and Penn State Altoona sealed its game-one win.

Game Two: Penn College 3, Penn State Altoona 2

Penn State Altoona found itself in another tie game in the seventh inning, but Penn College prevailed by scoring the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh.

Madison Sitarek (Sykesville, MD/Century) went 2-for-3, and Colledge was 2-for-4 with an RBI. Storm was 1-for-2 with a double and a walk, and Feathers and Jordan Krawcion (Johnstown, PA/Central Cambria) were both 1-for-3 with a run scored, with Feathers also stealing a base.

Josselyn Nau (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte) took the loss in the pitching circle in a complete-game effort. In 6 2/3 innings, Nau limited Penn College to just one earned run while allowing only four hits and no walks. She also struck out two batters.

Penn State Altoona scored the game's first run in the top of the fourth. Feathers led off with a base hit to center, stole second, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. After a walk, Maynard's groundout to shortstop scored Feathers to make it 1-0.

Penn College grabbed the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Jesse Brumbaugh started the frame with a home run to left, and an infield error later in the inning allowed Grace Lorson to score, giving the Wildcats a 2-1 advantage.

Penn State Altoona tied the score in the top of the seventh. Krawcion started the inning with a single to right, then moved into scoring position on Fisher's sacrifice bunt. Colledge plated Krawcion with an RBI single to center, and the Lions evened the score at 2-2.

But Penn College came up with the winning run in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, back-to-back singles put two runners aboard for the home team, and an outfield error in the next at-bat allowed Margaret Mangene to score from second base, delivering a walkoff win for the Wildcats.

Next up, Penn State Altoona softball will travel to face non-conference opponent Susquehanna University in a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 27 at 3 p.m.