ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Cedar Crest College softball team split a doubleheader against Penn State Harrisburg on Sunday at Cynthia L. Blaschak Field, suffering a 7-0 loss in the first game before bouncing back with a thrilling 9–8 victory in the second to start United East Conference play.

Game One – Penn State Harrisburg 7, Cedar Crest 0

The Lions took an early lead in the first inning when junior Emily Cutman (Palmyra, Pa.) singled to left field, driving in sophomore Madisen Minney (Lititz, Pa.). The score stood at 1-0 at the end of the first inning. In the second inning, a throwing error by the Falcons' third baseman allowed senior Lillian Feltenberger (Marysville, Pa.) to score, extending the Penn State Harrisburg lead to 2-0.

Cedar Crest sophomore Madison Nadasi (Bushkill, Pa./East Stroudsburg North) doubled to center field in the third inning, but the Falcons could not convert the opportunity into runs. The fifth inning saw the Lions extend their lead with an RBI double by Cutman, making it 3-0. In the sixth inning, two unearned runs scored for the Penn State Harrisburg, widening the gap to 5-0. Despite the Cedar Crest efforts in the bottom half of the inning, they could not respond. In the seventh, the Lions added two more runs to secure the win, ending the game at 7-0.

Sophomore Kylie Mastillo (Moscow, Pa./North Pocono) recorded two hits and stole a base, contributing significantly to the Falcons' offensive efforts. Nadasi's double provided a crucial scoring opportunity. Sophomore Alexis Acevedo (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) pitched a complete game, allowing eight hits, seven runs (four earned), striking out two, and walking five, but was tagged with the loss.

On the opposing side, junior Kylee Miller (Chambersburg, Pa.) pitched a complete game shutout for Penn State Harrisburg, allowing just four hits with six strikeouts. Minney and Cutman led the Lions offensively, with Cutman contributing two hits and two RBI, while junior Ashley Elefante (Cream Ridge, N.J.) added one hit and two RBI.

Game Two – Cedar Crest 9, Penn State Harrisburg 8 (Eight Innings)

A pivotal five-run third inning provided an early lead for the Cedar Crest, while sophomore Erin Gray's (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) steady pitching across eight innings helped secure the win despite a late surge from the Penn State Harrisburg. The Falcons capitalized on the opposing team's five errors, pushing across the go-ahead run in the eighth inning for the victory.

The Lions opened the scoring in the second inning with Cutman and sophomore Fallon McFadden (Millersburg, Pa.) contributing to a two-run lead, making it 2-0. However, Cedar Crest responded dramatically in the third inning. After first-year Madacyn Snyder (Wind Gap, Pa./Pen Argyl) walked and sophomore Abby Adams (Suffolk, Va./Lakeland) doubled, both players scored on a wild pitch and a single by Nadasi. An error by the left fielder allowed two more runs to score, resulting in a five-run inning and a 5-4 lead for the Falcons.

In the fourth inning, Cedar Crest capitalized on errors again, with Snyder and sophomore Kaitlyn Stock (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh) scoring unearned runs, extending the lead to 7-4. Penn State Harrisburg managed to score one run in the sixth inning, but the Falcons answered with Mastillo's RBI double, maintaining the lead at 8-5 after six innings. The seventh inning was tense as the Lions scored three runs to tie the game at 8-8, sending the matchup into extra innings.

In the eighth inning, sophomore Taylor Lawrence (Bethel, Pa./Tulpehocken), who replaced Stock as a pinch runner, scored on a throwing error, securing the walk-off victory for Cedar Crest.

For the Falcons, Nadasi recorded two hits and drove in two runs, while senior Natalie Hasert (Vernon, N.J./Vernon Township) contributed by scoring twice and adding a hit. Snyder also scored two runs and had two hits. Gray pitched a complete game, striking out five batters while allowing eight earned runs over eight innings, securing the win despite issuing two walks.

For Penn State Harrisburg, Miller was tagged with the loss after conceding two runs over two and one-thirds innings.

Minney excelled for the Lions, registering three hits, including a double and two triples, while scoring twice. Cutman stood out with a home run and three hits, scoring three times. Senior Rylee Martinez (Norwalk, Calif.) also had three hits and drove in a run.

Cedar Crest (7-7 overall, 1-1 United East) will have a quick turnaround as the Falcons host Centenary University (New Jersey) in a non-conference doubleheader on Monday, March 30 starting at 4:00 p.m. Penn State Harrisburg (9-5 overall, 1-1 United East) will next host Penn College for a conference twinbill on Wednesday, April 1 beginning at 3:00 p.m.