Softball | 5/9/2023 5:18:43 PM

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - For the second-straight season, the Penn State Berks softball team was crowned United East Champions as they defeated Penn State Harrisburg, 9-1 (5.1 Innings), Tuesday afternoon in the Conference Championship Final. With the result, Berks moves to 27-9 on the year while Harrisburg concludes its year with a record of 26-17.

Along with being named the United East Champions, the Nittany Lions will also represent the conference in the upcoming 2023 NCAA Division III Softball Championship. The team will learn where they will go and who they will play at 1 p.m. on Monday.

The day started with an upset as No. 3 Harrisburg took down Penn College, 3-1, in an elimination game. The Lions then matched up against Berks in a must-win scenario and Harrisburg did exactly that to set up a winner-take-all game seven. Penn State Berks bounced back though, winning 9-1 and instituting the run rule in the bottom of the fifth. 


BOXSCORES
GAME 5  |  GAME 6  |  GAME 7
 

GAME 7 (Championship Final)

Penn State Harrisburg - 1

Penn State Berks - 9

A big second inning for Berks was the turning point in this contest as the Nittany Lions plated seven of their nine runs. After singling and advancing to third on an error, a wild pitch allowed Ashley Thomas to score from third. Later, with runners on second and third Naomi Fay made it 2-0 with an RBI bunt single. Savannah Wilson and Arizona Shrek then both knocked back-to-back RBI singles followed by a Veronica Maryanski two RBI single. Thomas would make it back up to the plate again to single in the seventh run of the frame.

The lead would increase to 8-0 in the fourth as Shreck tanked a solo shot over the centerfield wall. Harrisburg combatted the run rule, scoring one in the top of the fifth, but a Fay sac fly in the bottom of the stanza forced the run rule as the score was, 9-1, in Berks’ favor.

Briana Smith would pick up the win on the afternoon and was also tabbed the Tournament Most Valuable Player for the second-straight season.

GAME 5

Penn State Harrisburg - 3

Penn College - 1

Harrisburg eliminated its second-straight opponent to kick off day two of the United East Softball Championship as they defeated top-seeded Penn College. The Wildcats got on the board first, plating their sole run in the bottom of the third. Lexi Snyder sent a ball up the middle that allowed Maddie Hurst to score from second.

It was all Harrisburg after that as they two runs in the fourth. Madelyn Lehigh opened the inning with a double and eventually scored after a pair of sacrifice bunts. A little later in the side, Alexus Brown reached home on a Krys Moore single. 

The Lions would increase their lead to 3-1 in the sixth as a pair of errors allowed Lehigh to reach home. Penn College would get the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the final inning but were unable to capitalize.

Sawdey picked up the win in the circle, marking her 11th of the season.
 

GAME 6

Penn State Harrisburg - 2

Penn State Berks - 0

Harrisburg continued to ride the wave, staving off elimination once more in game six. All scoring came in the top of the fourth as Lehigh opened it with a single and would eventually score on a Steph Reider single. Later in the frame, Brown would reach home as Leah Macaluso picked up an RBI single.

Sawdey went the first 5.0 innings keeping Berks hitless and would end up with her 12th win of the season. Carissa Yeager came in for the final six outs, picking up a save.

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The United East has nine NCAA Division III member institutions which include: Gallaudet University, Lancaster Bible College, Morrisville State, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg, St. Mary's College of Maryland and Wells College. The United East also includes three associate members in the sport of men’s golf including Clarks Summit University, Rosemont College, Rutgers University – Camden and Wilson College. Clarks Summit University is also an associate member in the sport of men’s tennis. The United East has also partnered with the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference in the sports of men's and women's lacrosse. For more information, please visit: gounitedeast.com