SCRANTON, PA -- Harford softball delivered a powerful one-two punch on Wednesday, sweeping Penn State HazeltonĀ in a doubleheader, outscoring the Nittany Lions 34-4 in the two games on the road.Ā It is the most runs the Fighting Owls have scored in a two-game set since March of last season when they combined for 32 runs against Cecil College.
Game 1: McCullough Powers 28-Run Outburst
Katelyn McCullough (Elkton) had a monster day at the plate, going 4-for-4 with four RBIs ā including a three-run homer in the third inning ā as the Fighting Owls overwhelmed Penn State Hazelton 28-4.
Harford jumped out early, scoring three runs in the first and adding five more in the second thanks to key hits from Alexis Trzeciak (North Harford), Eliza Lane (Dillsburg, Pa.)Ā and Anna SextonĀ (Nottingham, Pa.). A 12-run third inning, highlighted by McCullough's home run and a two-runĀ double from Arianna Blum (Harford Technical), broke the game wide open.
The Fighting Owls added nine more runs in the fourth, fueled by a string of hits from McCullough, Blum, Sexton and others.
Kaylee PruettĀ (Rising Sun) picked up her second win of the season in the circle, allowing four runs over five innings with six strikeouts.
Harford tallied 30 hits in the game, led by five-hit performances from Pruett and Blum.
Lane drove in five runsĀ and every Fighting Owl contributed to the scoring barrage. The team was error-free defensively and hadĀ three stolen bases.
Game 2: Trzeciak, Sexton Lead Shutout Victory
While Harford scored considerably less runs in game two, it was another one-sided game as the Fighting Owls shutout the Nittany Lions 6-0 to complete the sweep.
Trzeciak wasĀ a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored. Sexton fanned 11 batters - her second double digit strikeout performance of the season - scattered five hits, allowed just one walk and threw 63-of-87 pitches for strikes over seven innings.Ā
Trzeciak's triple in the first helped ignite the offense, while an RBI double from Kayla GistĀ (Hanover Township, Pa.) extended the lead in the third.
Blum chipped in with two RBIs, as the Fighting Owls collected 14 hits overall.
Blum also stole two bases, while the team swiped four in total and again played flawless defense behind Sexton.