ABINGTON, Pa. — The Cedar Crest College softball team was defeated twice by Penn State Abington on Saturday at Huntingdon Field, coming up short in both games with final scores of 8–3 and 5–3, respectively.

Game One – Penn State Abington 8, Cedar Crest 3

The Nittany Lions took an early lead in the first inning when junior Marlena Hacker (Warrington, Pa.) scored on a throwing error. First-year Tori Colagreco (Warminster, Pa.) contributed with a single, bringing the score to 2–0.

The Falcons responded in the second inning as sophomore Kylie Mastillo (Moscow, Pa./North Pocono) doubled, followed by senior Laney Ferraro (Philadelphia, Pa./New Foundations Charter) getting hit by a pitch. Both advanced on stolen bases, with Ferraro scoring on an error and Mastillo scoring on a wild pitch, tying the game at 2–2. However, the Nittany Lions regained the lead with Hacker scoring on an RBI single by Isabella Antosiewicz, making it 3–2.

In the third inning, Abington extended its lead when junior Lainey Scotese (Warminster, Pa.) scored on a sacrifice fly by Colagreco, pushing the score to 4–2. The Nittany Lions capitalized on fielding errors by Cedar Crest in the fourth inning, scoring four runs, capped by senior Jill Thomas' (Levittown, Pa.) two-RBI double, increasing the lead to 8–2.

The Falcons' offense was quiet until the seventh inning. Ferraro singled and later scored on a single by sophomore Kaitlyn Stock (Slatington, Pa./Northern Lehigh), but the game ended with a final score of 8–3 in favor of Penn State Abington.

Key contributors for Cedar Crest included Ferraro, who scored two runs and added a stolen base, and Mastillo, who had a double and one run scored. Stock also contributed with one hit and one RBI. Sophomore Alexis Acevedo (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) pitched a complete game, throwing 92 pitches over six innings with nine hits and six earned runs, while striking out none and issuing two walks.

On the opposing side, sophomore Jess Dinardo (Westampton, N.J.) of Penn State Abington tossed a complete game, allowing five hits and two earned runs while striking out eight without a walk, earning the win and improving to 7–7 on the season. Hacker showcased her speed, contributing three runs, two hits, and two stolen bases, while Colagreco drove in two runs with one hit.

Game Two – Penn State Abington 5, Cedar Crest 3

The Falcons took the lead in the third inning when junior Kate Gronkowski (Hanover Township, Pa./Hanover Area Junior Senior) hit a single up the middle, bringing in Mastillo and sophomore Emily Christopher (Palmerton, Pa./Palmerton Area) for unearned runs, making the score 2–1.
However, in the fifth inning, the Nittany Lions surged ahead with a four-run rally, highlighted by Hacker's single to center field that drove in two runs, extending the lead to 5–2.

Cedar Crest responded in the sixth inning when sophomore Madison Nadasi (Bushkill, Pa./East Stroudsburg North) scored on a single by Mastillo, closing the gap to 5–3, the eventual final.

Mastillo had a strong performance for the Falcons, scoring one run and collecting two hits with one RBI, while Gronkowski recorded two hits and drove in two runs. Sophomore Erin Gray (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) pitched a complete game, striking out two batters over six innings, allowing 11 hits and five earned runs, and was charged with the loss.  

For Penn State Abington, Dinardo earned the win with three innings of relief, giving up one earned run on four hits while striking out four and walking one. Junior Paula Casale (Old Ridge, N.J.) started for the Nittany Lions, delivering three and one-thirds scoreless innings despite allowing six hits. Hacker made a significant impact, contributing two runs and two RBI, while senior Emily Foxhill (Lanhorne, Pa.) led the team with three hits, including a double.

Cedar Crest (14-16 overall, 4-8 United East) stays on the road for a conference doubleheader at Cairn University on Tuesday, April 21 starting at 3:00 p.m. Penn State Abington (14-18 overall, 5-9 United East) will host Delaware Valley University in a non-conference DH on Tuesday beginning at 2:30 p.m.