Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Abington, Pa. - The Penn State Abington softball squad got two distinctly different, yet ultimately equal victories earlier this afternoon when they swept a doubleheader against Gallaudet University. The Nittany Lions came back from an early deficit and then hung on late for the 5-4 victory in game one before pounding the Bison in game two by a score of 8-0 in five innings. Michaela Drogalis earned the victory in both games, while Sheila O'Hagan clobbered two home runs in game two to provide some big offense.
 
Gallaudet (10-14, 0-4 NEAC) actually got on top first in game one, scoring a couple of runs in their first at bats of the game. Nicole O'Malley led off the game with a single through the left side. Drogalis got the next two batters out on a fielder's choice and a flyout to center, and it appeared that she may get out of the inning unscathed. However, power hitter Rachel Sweigart came up next for the Bison, got a pitch to hit, and knew exactly what to do with it. Sweigart sent a flyball deep over the center field fence for a two-run home run. Drogalis managed to get out of the inning without any further damage after that, but Gallaudet held onto a 2-0 lead before the Nittany Lions even came to bat.
 
Penn State Abington (9-3, 3-0 NEAC) managed to get one run back in the bottom of the first to cut into their deficit. Cara Fiala led off the inning with a single through the left side, and advanced to second on a fielding error by the left fielder. The fast freshman outfielder then stole third base straight up, setting the table for Alyssa Virginio in the two-hole. Virginio came through, sending a single right back up the middle to score Fiala and make it a 2-1 game. The Nittany Lions then tied the game in the bottom of the second in a similar manner. With runners on first and second and one out, it was Sam Kidd this time at the plate, and the junior second baseman lined a single into center to bring home Drogalis and tie the game at 2-2.
 
With Drogalis settling into the game nicely on the mound, Penn State Abington finally jumped ahead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Trish Watson got things started with a double to right center, and Brogalis followed that up with a single herself, moving to second on the throw home to stop Watson. With runners at second at third, Nicole Battaglio sent a sac fly into right to score Watson and give the Blue and White their first lead of the game. A pair of singles from Kidd and Carly Wenderlich scored two more runs in the inning, and with just three innings left to play, the Nittany Lions held a 5-2 lead.
 
Gallaudet did manage to chip away at that lead with single runs over the next two innings. An infield throwing error in the top of the fifth allowed a run to come home from second base before a sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth scored another run. However, the Nittany Lions defense buckled down in the top of the seventh to end the game, even when it looked to be in peril. Gallaudet started their last inning by getting back-to-back singles. However, the lead runner was cut down trying to advance to third base on the second single on a great throw from the shortstop in shallow center field. Drogalis followed that up by getting the dangerous home run hitter Sweigart to strike out looking, and closed the game with a groundout to third base.
 
-------------------------------------
 
Game two took a completely different course from game one, and much of that was due to a great pitching performance from Drogalis and a huge offensive game from Sheila O'Hagan. The junior catcher got things started off great for the Nittany Lions by giving them an early lead in the bottom of the first inning. Cara Fiala drew a walk to open the inning, before a sacrifice groundout and another groundout advanced her to third. O'Hagan came up with two outs, and lined a double into the outfield to score Fiala and put the Blue and White up 1-0.
 
The Nittany Lions got two more runs in the bottom of the third. With two outs, Alyssa Virginio doubled into center field, and Mariellen Medernach followed that up with an RBI single to increase Abington's lead to 2-0. Then, O'Hagan came up once again, and this time crushed a ball over the center field wall for a two-run homer, her fifth on the season. Meanwhile, Drogalis was throwing a great game from the pitcher's circle. The Bison couldn't get a runner past second base until the top of the third with two outs. However, even with Gallaudet threatening in that instance, Drogalis buckled down and struck out the next batter to get out of the jam. The fifth inning offered the Bison probably their best offensive chance of the afternoon, as they got runners to second and third with two outs. However, once again Abington's top pitcher got out of trouble with a groundout to second base to keep Gallaudet off the board.
 
Meanwhile, Abington entered the bottom of the fifth inning with a four run lead and looking to extend it. Ashley Quenzer opened the inning by reaching on an error, and advanced all the way to third on the same error and a wile pitch. Cara Fiala came up next and sent a sacrifice fly out to center field, to score Quenzer and give Abington a 5-0 lead. After a hit by pitch and a single, it was O'Hagan coming to the plate once again, this time with two runners on. O'Hagan blasted another shot deep over the center field fence, in almost exactly the same place as her previous homer. The three-run blast made the score 8-0 and ended the game after five innings played.
 
Drogalis got the victory in both games, going five strong innings in game two and giving up just four hits and three walks in earning that win. Numerous Nittany Lions had strong days at the plate. O'Hagan is the obvious one, going three-for-three in game two with the two home runs and six RBIs. Sam Kidd went three-for-five on the day, including two RBIs, while Cara Fiala went three-for-five herself with a run and an RBI. The victory was the ninth for the Nittany Lions, and keeps them undefeated at 3-0 in NEAC conference play so far this year. The team with continue their four game homestand tomorrow afternoon when they face off against NEAC rival Penn State Harrisburg. Game one is scheduled to begin at 1:00 pm at Huntingdon Field.