Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Abington, Pa. - The Nittany Lions softball squad swept a doubleheader against Rosemont in fine fashion earlier this afternoon at Huntingdon Field. Penn State Abington came from behind to win their opening game before cruising to a 9-1 victory in game two. Senior Mariellen Medernach and junior Sheila O'Hagan led the offensive output for the Blue and White, while Michaela Drogalis earned the victory in both games, pitching all 12 innings on the afternoon.
 
Game one got off to a somewhat slow start for both sides, perhaps as a side effect of the cold weather and winds that the teams were playing in. However, Rosemont finally got their bats warmed up in the top of the third inning and took the first lead of the day. With two outs in the inning and a runner on third base, the Ravens put together a quality two-out rally. It started with a walk, and then Jess Verage sent a single through the left side to score the runner from third. Another walk loaded the bases, before a single and yet another walk brought in two more runs. Drogalis finally got the Nittany Lions out of the inning with a strikeout, but the damage had already been done, and Rosemont led 3-0.
 
The Nittany Lions (4-2, 0-0 NEAC) squandered chances to capitalize, leaving runners on base over the next two innings, before finally breaking through in the bottom of the fifth with a huge inning. After a groundout to start the inning, Penn State Abington put the next five runners all safely on base, and each of those five eventually scored. Medernach came through with the loudest hit of the inning, a two-RBI triple into right field that brought the Nittany Lions within one. A fielder's choice, wild pitch, and an error by the catcher on an attempt by Trish Watson to steal home allowed the next three runs of the inning. By the time Rosemont finally got out of the inning, Abington had jumped ahead by a score of 5-3.
 
The Nittany Lions tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. After a groundout to start the inning, freshman Alyssa Virginio laced a triple into left field. Then, freshman Cara Fiala sent a pitch deep over the outfield wall for a two-run home run. With Drogalis pitching a solid final inning on the mound, the Nittany Lions came out on top with a 7-3 victory.
 
In game two, it was O'Hagan getting things started off early for the Blue and White. With two outs and Medernach on first in the bottom of the first inning, the junior catcher turned on a pitch and sent it just over the right center fencing for a two-run homerun. Rosemont cut the deficit to one with a single run in the top of the second, but the Nittany Lions blew the doors off the game in the bottom of the frame. Penn State Abington put together six hits in the inning, including two doubles, an RBI triple, and yet another home run from O'Hagan, this time over the left center field wall. By the time the Ravens finally got out of the inning, the Nittany Lions had scored seven more runs and led 9-1.
 
With a monstrous lead and daylight fading fast, it was Drogalis who pitched the Nittany Lions the rest of the way home. The sophomore put down nine out of the next ten batters she faced, allowing only a hit by pitch for the rest of the game. When she got Gabby Delogu to line out to right field to end the game, she had put together a two-hitter and allowed just one run while striking out four.
 
The pair of victories get the Nittany Lions above the .500 mark for the first time at this early point in the season, and they'll look to keep it that way when they hit the diamond on Saturday afternoon for a pair of games against SUNY Canton. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1:00 pm.