Penn State Schuylkill Softball swept their final day at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic - Myrtle Beach, SC following wins against Bay Path University and Hilbert College.
Game One: Penn State Schuylkill 11, Bay Path 10 (7 innings)
Schuylkill entered the scoring column during the 1st inning on a single by Mackenzie Carl (Tower City, PA / Williams Valley) which led to a run by Meghan Stokes (Winchester, VA / John Hadley). A Bay Path error resulted in a Carl run plays later to give Schuylkill a 2-0 advantage heading into the 2nd inning.
A double by Bay Path at the top of the second inning led to two runs, evening the score at 2-2. Bay Path scored on a double the very next possession to take a 3-2 lead.
A Stokes hit at the bottom of the second advanced Caitlyn Goggin (Alexandria, VA / Hayfield Secondary School) to third base. The pair went on to steal second and home base respectively as Schuylkill evened the score at 3-3.
Schuylkill caught fire at the bottom of the third inning, hitting the ball a total of 5 times and scoring 5 times to take an 8-4 lead heading into the fourth. The inning was highlighted by a double by Kristina McConnell (Port Jefferson Station, NY / Comsewogue)
The top of the 5th inning belonged to Bay Path as they were able to hit the ball a total of three times, leading to four runs to even the score at 8-8.
A Bay Path single at the top of the 6th inning put them in front 9-8. Schuylkill responded with a triple from Kaely Walshaw (Dornsife, PA / Line Mountain) to open up the bottom frame of the 6th inning ultimately leading to another Schuylkill run.
Following a Bay Path run at the top of the 7th inning, Cealinn McGroathy (New Boston, PA / Mahanoy) and Stokes went on to single on back-to-back plays. An error advanced the pair to third and second base and put Schuylkill in position to tie the contest. Walshaw flied out to centerfield on the next play, leading to a McGroathy run.
With the score 10-10 at the bottom of the 7th inning with bases loaded for Schuylkill, Emily Maher (Orwigsburg, PA / Blue Mountain) went on to single, leading to a Stokes run and a victory for Schuylkill.
Carl led Schuylkill with 3 hits. Walshaw and Maher finished with 2 hits each. Alyssa Youst (Schuylkill Haven, PA / Blue Mountain) tallied 3 RBIs in the victory. Walshaw went the distance on the mound, winning her matchup.
Game Two: Penn State Schuylkill 6, Hilbert 4 (7 innings)
Hilbert ended the scoring drought for both teams during the 3rd inning as they took a 3-0 lead. Errors by Hilbert at the bottom of the 4th inning ultimately led to 5 Schuylkill runs. A double by Walshaw at the bottom of the 4th inning led to a Carl run, extended Schuylkill's lead to 6-3. Schuylkill closed out Hilbert in 7 innings.
Carl and Morgan Kleckner (Hamburg, PA / Hamburg) tallied 2 hits each in the victory. Kleckner connected on a triple during the fifth inning for Schuylkill. Miranda Hess (New Columbia, PA / Milton) and Melanie Torrales (Allentown, PA / William Allen) split time on the mound for Schuylkill. Torrales won her matchup, allowing one run and recording two strikeouts. Hess recorded four strikeouts in the victory.
Schuylkill (3-3 overall) will return to action on Sunday, March 19th as they take on NAIA opponent Washington Adventist.
