(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – It was time for spring cleaning as Wilson brought the brooms and swept Penn State Hazleton in a softball twin bill Sunday afternoon. The Phoenix scored a combined 29 runs in eight innings and tossed a one-hit shutout in the opener as they faced little trouble from the Lions.
The Basics
Scores: Game 1 – Wilson 17, Penn State Hazleton 0 (5 Innings)
Game 2 – Wilson 12, Penn State Hazleton (5 Innings)
Venue: Wilson Softtball Field
Records: Wilson 11-5, Penn State Hazleton 0-2
How It Happened (Game 1)
- The runs came early and often as Wilson plated five in the first inning and scored their additional dozen across the next two. Alaina Smith (FY, Bellefonte, Pa. / Bellefonte) provided the biggest difference in the first with a bases loaded base hit to center that brought everyone home and gave the Phoenix a 4-0 lead. Smith scored one batter later as Madison Briggs (Sr., Lock Haven, Pa. / Central Mountain) singled through the right side.
- Katelyn Keller (So., Orrtanna, Pa. / Gettysburg) recorded yet another triple with a liner through the left side that scored Emily Randalls (So., Dillsburg, Pa. / Northern york) and scored herself on the same play with an errant through on the relay in. Jenna Weaver (So., Camp Hill, Pa. / Cedar Cliff) made it 8-0 with a base hit to right that brought in Sydney Hartle (So., Keedysville, Md. / Boonsboro).
- The floodgates opened in the third as Wilson scored nine runs on nine hits. Taylor Espenshade (FY, Dillsburg, Pa. / Northern York) made the first dent with a double down the left field line to score Alexa Snyder (FY, Clear Spring, Md. / Clear Spring) and later scored on a Grace Purdum (FY, Annapolis, Md. / Broadneck) grounder. Ashleigh Sharp (FY, Westminster, Md. / Winters Mill) singled in Alyssa Kennard (FY, Camden Del. / Caesar Rodney) and Brooke Leedy (So., Fayetteville, Pa. / Chambersburg). Snyder bunted in Kayla Talbert (Jr., Hagerstown, Md. / North Hagerstown / Saint Peter's) for a 13-0 lead, Espenshade doubled in Deanna Estes (So., West Grove, Pa. / Avon Grove) and Smith, Leedy brought in Snyder, and Kennard brought in Espenshade to round out the scoring.
How It Happened (Game 2)
- Penn State Hazleton had the advantage shortly in Game 2 as the visitors scored a pair on two hits and an error in the first. Wilson swiftly responded with six in the second. A bunt single by Snyder put Wilson on the board as Espenshade scored. Hannah Berger (FY, Rome, Pa. / Northeast Bradford) then put the Phoenix in front on a two-RBI base hit to right center. Berger later scored thanks to a Hazleton error. Samantha Rybacki (So., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Mechanicsburg) doubled in Hartle and scored on a Purdum base hit to center to close the scoring.
- Julie Burger (FY, Baltimore, Md. / Dundalk) made it 7-2 one inning later after circling the bases on an infield error. Snyder and Berger also scored in the frame to make it 9-2. Burger, Leedy, and Berger also scored in the fourth to put Wilson up 10.
Inside The Numbers
- The pitching by committee in the opener saw three pitchers allow just one hit in the blanking of the Lions. Rybacki started the game and struck out four in 2.1 innings as she improved to 3-0 on the year. Rebecca Fox (So., Hedgesville, W.Va. / Hedgesville) and Burger both struck out a pair in relief.
- Kennard started Game 2 and allowed two unearned runs on two hits while punching out five for her first win.
- Espenshade, Leedy, Keller, Talbert, and Snyder all had multiple hit games in the opener. Snyder and Rybacki did so in Game 2.
- Snyder was a combined 5-for-6 with four runs scored and two RBI.
Up Next
Wilson will host Mary Baldwin in a Wednesday doubleheader. First pitch with the Fighting Squirrels is set for 2 p.m.
