ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Cedar Crest College softball team picked up a split against Penn College in a United East Conference doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon at Cynthia L. Blaschak Field. The Wildcats took game one, 9-1, in six innings, while the Falcons rallied for a 5-3 win in game two for the split.

Game One – Penn College 9, Cedar Crest 1 (Six Innings)

Penn College struck first with three runs in the top of the first inning. First-year Ryleigh Rinker (Poway, Calif.) got the scoring started with a base hit to center field, which brought around senior Madison Herriman (Danville, Pa.). Junior Lexi Snyder (Hegins, Pa.) followed with an RBI groundout, which helped plate senior Mackenzie Weaver (Williamsport, Pa.). The final run of the frame came on a base knock to center field from first-year Payton Crawford (Bloomsburg, Pa.), scoring Rinker for the 3-0 lead.

The Wildcats added one in the second following an infield single from Herriman, which plated sophomore Sophia LaSpina (Bellmore, N.Y.) to push the score to 4-0.

Penn College pushed three more runs across in the third to stretch the margin to 7-0.

Cedar Crest scored its run in the third after junior Natalie Hasert (Vernon, N.J./Vernon Township) crossed home after sophomore Kate Gronkowski (Hanover Township, Pa./Hanover Area Junior Senior) reached on a fielding error to make the score 7-1.

The Wildcats added single tallies in the fourth and sixth to end the game in six innings with the 9-1 final.

Weaver collected the win in the circle for Penn College, only giving up one run on three hits while striking out seven.

First-year Erin Gray (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) was tagged with the loss, giving up nine runs on 15 hits while striking out a pair and walking two.

Senior Alex Mullen (Prospect Park, Pa./Interboro) had a pair of hits for the Falcons while Hasert closed out the column with one.

Weaver finished game one going 3-for-4 with two runs scored to pace the Wildcats.

Game Two – Cedar Crest 5, Penn College

Cedar Crest pushed four runs across in the third to grab the early advantage. Hasert got things started when she crossed home on a wild pitch. Gronkowski also scored on a wild pitch and then junior Laney Ferraro (Philadelphia, Pa./New Foundations Charter) crossed home on a passed ball. The last run came on a sacrifice bunt by Mullen, which helped plate senior Alexis Kline (Allentown, Pa./Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter) to make the score 4-0.

The teams traded runs in the fifth. Sophomore Fayth Anderson (Lykens, Pa.) came around to score on a fielding error and then Kline delivered the run for the Falcons with a triple to center field, plating Ferraro.

Penn College recorded two runs in the sixth, but the Falcons were able to hang on for the 5-3 win.

First-year Alexis Acevedo (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) secured the win in the circle, tossing a complete game. She allowed three runs on five hits while walking a pair.

First-year Mackenzi Tice (Mansfield, Pa.) threw six innings and struck out 12 while walking two in the loss.

Kline went a team-best 3-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored. First-year Abby Adams (Suffolk, Va./Lakeland) went 2-for-3. Hasert and first-year Madison Nadasi (Bushkill, Pa./East Stroudsburg North) each had a hit to close out the category.

Cedar Crest (14-14 overall, 6-2 United East) will stay home to host Cairn University on Saturday, April 12 at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. It will also mark Senior Day for the Falcons. Penn College (18-9 overall, 4-2 United East) returns home to host Lancaster Bible College on Saturday starting at 1:00 p.m.