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Photo (by Cory Maines): Junior catcher Jessica Willits takes a swing during the Lady Lions' doubleheader with Pitt-Bradford on Saturday at Stewart Athletic Field.
Photo (by Cory Maines): Junior catcher Jessica Willits takes a swing during the Lady Lions' doubleheader with Pitt-Bradford on Saturday at Stewart Athletic Field.

Lady Lions Swept in Saturday Doubleheader

ALTOONA, Pa. – Pitt-Bradford edged the Penn State Altoona softball team in a pair of Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference games on Saturday afternoon at Stewart Athletic Field, as the Lady Lions suffered 3-0 and 3-1 losses.

Penn State Altoona (10-14, 1-7 AMCC) got solid pitching and defense in both games of the doubleheader. But the Lady Lions' bats were unable to provide the necessary offense to overcome impressive efforts from Pitt-Bradford's (19-11, 7-3 AMCC) pitchers and fielders.

Game One: Pitt-Bradford 3, Penn State Altoona 0

The Lady Lions were limited to just four hits, while Pitt-Bradford did enough to get past Penn State Altoona in game one of the doubleheader.

Jessica Willits (Jersey Shore, PA/Jersey Shore) had two of her team's four hits, going 2-for-3 at the plate. Olivia Miller (West Newton, PA/Yough) was 1-for-3, while Ellie Leyo (Irvona, PA/Glendale) went 1-for-1.

Sarah Gearhart (McVeytown, PA/Mount Union) pitched well but took the loss. In a complete game, seven-inning effort, Gearhart allowed two earned runs on seven hits and just one walk.

Pitt-Bradford got two of its three runs in the top of the first inning. After an error and a single put two runners on for the Lady Panthers, RBI base hits from Liz Dzurisin and Madison East gave the visitors a 2-0 advantage.

Pitt-Bradford increased its lead to 3-0 in the top of the fourth inning, when Lindsey Hull's RBI single to left-center brought a run home for the visitors.

Game Two: Pitt-Bradford 3, Penn State Altoona 1

Penn State Altoona held Pitt-Bradford to just three runs again, but the Lady Lions' bats were unable to come through, plating only one run of their own on six hits.

Kaitlyn Harmon (Sunbury, PA/Shikellamy) led the way for Penn State Altoona's hitters, going 2-for-3. Jayde Burge (Philipsburg, PA/Philipsburg-Osceola) and Willits were each 1-for-3, and Miller was also 1-for-3 with one run batted in. Meghan Marasti (Pittsburgh, PA/Penn-Trafford) went 1-for-4.

Penn State Altoona got another effective start in the circle, this time from Sidney Lewis (Smithmill, PA/Moshannon Valley). In a seven-inning, complete game start, Lewis allowed only two earned runs on six hits and a walk while striking out one batter.

Pitt-Bradford struck early again, plating one run in the top of the first inning to nab the lead. After Gabby Carpenter led off the game with a base hit, she advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, then made it to third on a wild pitch. Carpenter scored on Maddy Hillery's fielder's choice grounder to shortstop, giving the Lady Panthers a 1-0 lead.

Penn State Altoona scored its first run of the day in the bottom of the third inning. Abby Showers (Philipsburg, PA/Philipsburg-Osceola) led off the frame with a walk, stole second base, and moved up to third on a groundout. Miller came through with a two-out RBI single to left, tying the score 1-1.

But Pitt-Bradford reclaimed the lead in the top of the fifth, when Hillery's sac fly to center put her team up 2-1. The Lady Panthers added an insurance run in the seventh when Carpenter led off with a triple and scored on Sophia Fratercangelo's sac fly.

Next up, Penn State Altoona softball will travel to Pittsburgh on Tuesday, April 16 to play AMCC opponent La Roche University in a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 p.m.