PSU Softball Loses Playoff Opener

Penn State Abington softball dropped the first game in the opening round of the North Eastern Athletic Conference Championship Tournament at Hintz Field on Friday afternoon.

After a slow start from Abington, SUNYIT jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of first.

Abington managed to stay in contention in the top of third with runners on first and second before senior Mariellen Medernach singled up through the middle, rounding Ashley Quenzer from second for the first run before Cara Fiala came up short at home as SUNYIT's catcher managed to haul in the throw from centerfield for the tag to prevent the tie.

SUNYIT continued to do more damage on the turn, as two runs were scored off of Krista Pristera's triple out to right field before Lauren Marleau bunted cleanly to record an RBI on a fielder's choice, making it a 5-1 ball game in favor of the Wildcats.

Abington kept pushing throughout the game, scoring the second run in the top of fifth from Sam Kidd's RBI single to score Sheila O'Hagan from third, cutting the deficit to three runs. However, in the bottom of the fifth, the Wildcats added two more runs on a single to increase the lead to 7-2.

Sophomore Michaela Drogalis went 4.1 innings, allowing seven runs on four hits. O'Hagan relieved in the final two innings for the Nittany Lions, allowing just one hit.

Kidd, O'Hagan, and Nicole Battaglio all went 1-for-3 at the plate as Kidd picked up an RBI while O'Hagan scored a run on the day.

SUNYIT's Erica Hovey pitched a complete game, allowing just two runs on nine hits as Pristera went 2-for-3 at the plate with 3 RBIs and two runs for the Wildcats.

The Nittany Lions will return to action Saturday, May 4 at noon as they wait to see who the winners are from Game 4.

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Courtesy of Penn State Abington