CARLISLE, Pa. - The Dickinson softball team began their 2022 home slate on Tuesday afternoon by splitting a pair of games against Penn State-Mont Alto. The Nittany Lions claimed the first game 10-5, before the Red and White answered back with a 10-9 extra-inning victory in game two at Dickinson Park. 

Game One - PSU-Mont Alto 10, DEVILS 5 

Pitching Decision

W - Kirsten Dell (2-0) | L - Emma Varella (0-1)

Inside the Game

PSU got on the board first in the second as the first three batters singled, before Jaylin Belton picked up a base-hit to center to drive in one. Two batters later it was 2-0 as Dell hit a sac fly to left. Dickinson answered back in the home-half when Laila Gwathmey smacked a two-run single to center driving in both Brooke Espenshade and Avery Badger who had singled to begin the frame. After Gwathmey stole second Hannah Seburn knocked her in with a two-bagger making it 3-2 after two. 

The Lions added four runs in the top of the fourth on four hits, while being aided by two Devils errors. Belton and Dell each had doubles to account for one run, followed by an RBI single from MacKenzie Stake. With two on Stake stole second which allowed Dell to come in on a bad throw to second. Destiny Hall added a single to drive in one more for the 6-3 advantage leading to Riley Kuehn taking over in the circle. She settled things down putting away the next three hitters to end the rally. 

PSU put up four more during the fifth with Dell plating Courtney Smith who ran for Belton after she walked. After Stake reached on an error Hall drove home Haley Dawson who reached on a previous miscue by DC. A strikeout by the next hitter looked to stall the momentum, but Brooklyn Miller ripped a single to left driving home runs nine and ten. 

Dickinson picked up single runs in the sixth and seventh as Seburn drove in Gwathmey with a two-out double in the sixth. Then, Badger produced a one-out single to plate Beth Belanger, however, Varella and Kuehn were set down to end the game at 10-5.

Game Two - DEVILS 10, PSU-Mont Alto 9 (F/8)

Pitching Decision

W - Riley Kuehn (3-3) | L - MacKenzie Stake (0-4)

Inside the Game

DC went on top early as Gwathmey began the home-half of the first with a walk, before swiping second and third prior to coming in on an error by the Lions. Lindsay Kucker worked a free pass with one away, but would not get home.

Kucker was rolling in the circle through the first three innings for the Red and White as Dickinson continued to hold onto a 1-0 edge. For the second time in the game Gwathmey drew a leadoff walk. Kucker would then be hit by Stake to put two on for Paige Hahn. She doubled to center for two RBIs and a 3-0 lead after three. 

Kucker ran into issues during the following frame as the first six Lions reached base allowing four runs to score with Emily Sicinski recording a bases-loaded double, while Skye Herring drove in one with a single. That gave PSU a 4-3 lead and forced DC to put Kuehn in the circle for the second game in a row. She stopped the rally in its tracks to move things to the fifth. However, in that inning, she gave up three straight singles, before a fielder's choice for Katie McCauslin increased the lead to 5-3 through five. 

Both teams got on the board in the sixth as Dell singled to begin things, prior to Hall blasting a two-run shot to left making it 8-3 after five and a half. A walk to Brenner and a base hit for Badger put two on with one away for Varella. She brought home one with a double to center, followed by a two-run two-bagger for Seburn trimming the gap to 8-6. The Devils finally made it all the way back when Kucker smoked a triple to right scoring two more to tie things up. 

DC had a chance to win it in regulation with Espenshade getting on base with one down, unfortunately, Badger and Varella both flew out to retire the side and force bouns softball.

Hall was automatically placed on second to begin the eighth. She then came in two batters later when Miller came up with a sac fly to right. An infield single and an error gave the Lions a chance to tack on with the bases full, but Kuehn got a strikeout along with a flyout to retire the side. With Varella standing at third after a sac bunt, Gwathmey singled to drive her in and Seburn doubled to plate the winning run.

On Deck

Dickinson (3-8) returns to Dickinson Park on Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m. when they host Wilson College for a doubleheader.