Lancaster, PA - The Penn State Berks Softball team completed the season sweep of Lancaster Bible College, downing the Chargers twice on Thursday, Apr. 18. The Lions won game one 10-3 and then took game two 14-3.
GAME 1
The Lions captured the early advantage, scoring twice in the top of the second inning. Peyton Vivian led off the inning by drawing a walk. Lauren Ziegler hammered a double into center field, allowing Vivian to hustle around the base and score the game's first run. Rylee Tineri kept the momentum going perfectly placing a double down the right field line allowing Ziegler to score. Berks struck again in the third inning, with Vivian driving a single into left field that allowed Naomi Fay to score.
Inside the circle, Berks got another strong pitching performance by Paige Brightwell. Brightwell held the Chargers to three runs (two earned) on eight hits while striking out six.
Berks' offense found its rhythm in the fourth inning, seizing control of the game. Emily Smith started the inning off by driving a single up the middle. Ashley Thomas drew a walk to put a pair of runners on base. Later in the inning, Savannah Wilson smacked an RBI single up the middle, making the score 4-0. The Lions then loaded the bases for Brightwell, who cleared them with a double to center field that scored three runs. Vivian closed out the rally, driving a single into right center that scored Brightwell and made the score 8-0. LBC kept the game alive, scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
The Lions added a run in the sixth inning off a Vivian single and a run in the seventh inning off a Wilson single to put the game out of reach. Berks held LBC to two total hits in the final two innings to secure the 10-3 victory.
GAME 2
Berks once again struck first in the nightcap, scoring in the top of the second inning. With runners on first and second, Maura Gorman blasted a single up the middle driving in a run. LBC answered right back, scoring a run in the bottom of the inning to level the score at one. The Lions retook the lead in the top of the third inning. Berks put runners on second and third base with two outs in the inning for Mallory Duff. Duff drove a ball through the left side, bringing home the second run of the game. Gorman kept the rally going smacking an RBI single into left center field, giving Berks a 3-1 lead. The Chargers once again answered, scoring in the bottom of the inning to make the score 3-2.
The Lions took control of the game in the top of the fifth inning. Vivian started the inning with a bang, hammering a triple into center field. Ziegler drew a walk and swiped second base to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Tineri capitalized on the opportunity, driving a single into left center that brought home both runners. Later on the inning with runners on second and third, Thomas singled to bring home another run making the score 6-2. Fay kept the rally going popping a single into center field, allowing both runners to score. Fay eventually scored on a passed ball, giving Berks a 9-2 advantage. The Chargers scored one run in the bottom of the sixth inning, to close back within six runs.
Berks piled on five runs in the top of the seventh inning. The Lions had a pair of runners on base for Ashlyn Sherwood who reached on a fielding error that allowed a run to score. Vivian crushed a triple into right field, plating two more runs and making the score 12-3. Berks added two more runs, to take a commanding 14-3 advantage.
WHO'S NEXT
The Lions will continue their road trip, traveling to face Penn College in a United East doubleheader on Saturday, Apr. 20. The first pitch is scheduled for 4:00 PM.
STAY CONNECTED
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