Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 NEWTOWN, Pa. – The Penn State Abington softball team fell in both halves of its doubleheader on Sunday to conference foe Penn State Berks, falling 4-2 in seven innings in game one before falling 11-1 in game two on the team's Senior Day. The Nittany Lions are now 15-14 on the year and 9-7 in conference play, while Berks improve to 26-3 overall and 14-1 in the conference.

Berks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning when Jess Epler had an RBI double out to left before a wild pitch allowed Berk's Marissa Ruggiero to score from third followed by Epler scoring on a sacrificed fly by Casey Hafer.  Three batters later, Abington's defense managed to close out the top of first after Alyssa Virginio went to field the ball until Lexi Lobb collided into her to be called out on the play for runner interference.

Abington responded back in the same frame when Trish Watson blasted a two run homer over the left field fence to trail the game by just one run. 

Despite a combine total of nine hits from both teams, neither sides were able to score any additional runs in the next six innings as the pitching squad and its defense from both benches remained strong throughout the game with Berks still holding onto the 3-2 lead. However, in the top of seventh, Ruggiero led the batting order and doubled out to left field before advancing to third on an error before scoring an insurance run for Berks on a passed ball for the 4-2 lead.

Abington hoped to jump start a final rally to tie and even take the game in the bottom of seventh, however Berks' pitcher Casey Hafer, who struck out eight batters in the game, flustered the final three Abington batters to give Berks its first win of the day.

Michaela Drogalis pitched all seven innings for Abington allowing just four runs on 13 hits. Watson led the squad, going 1-for-3 with 2 RBIs on the homer, while Sheila O'Hagan, Nichole Battaglio, and Cara Fiala each recorded a hit in game one.

In game two Berks jumped out to an early lead once again with eight runs in the top of second before plating three more in the fourth to make it 11-0. Abington struggled to score runs in the first three innings, leaving three runners on base two hits before plating the lone run of the game in the bottom of fourth off of Battaglio's RBI single out to right center to bring Watson safely home from third.

The Nittany Lions hoped to keep the rally alive with the bases loaded in the fourth, but could not muster any additional runs as Berks' Hafer, once again, quieted Abington's bats to get out of the jam before closing out the game in five innings for her second win of the day.
Virginio finished the day going 2-for-2 with a walk, while Sam Kidd went 1-for-3 at the plate for Abington. Drogalis pitched all five innings and gave up 11 runs on nine hits.

After the doubleheader, seniors Trish Watson and Mariellen Medernach were recognized by the team.

Abington will return to action on Tuesday as it hosts Delaware Valley College in a non-conference matchup. The first pitch is set for 3 p.m.