Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Abington, Pa. – The Penn State Abington softball squad earned a split of their early afternoon doubleheader against Penn State Berks on Friday. In one of the best games of the season to this point in game one, the Nittany Lions led most of the way before giving up the lead to Berks in their last at bats, only to come away with a walk-off 5-4 victory in the bottom of the seventh. Conference leaders Berks took home the win in game two with a nine-run output, but the split was good enough for Abington to keep pace with their visitors on the loss side of their respective records in NEAC conference play. Michaela Drogalis earned the game one victory, while Sheila O'Hagan blasted two more home runs en route to a total of two hits, two RBIs, and three runs scored.
 
O'Hagan got Penn State Abington (12-4, 10-2 NEAC) out in front early, thanks to a solo shot over the left field fence in the bottom of the first inning. The Blue and White extended their lead in the third, although perhaps not as much as the squad would've liked. With one out, Danielle Jones reached first on an infield single. Bianca Monterosso followed that up by reaching on an error-filled play, after which Penn State Abington found themselves with the runners safely on second and third. With the open base at first, Penn State Berks (19-7, 12-2 NEAC) decided to intentionally walk O'Hagan, who is the leader by far in the NEAC when it comes to home runs with a total of nine. Now with the bases loaded, Breanna Lineman came to the plate and hit an RBI fielder's choice groundball, with Monterosso out at third but Jones scoring to make it 2-0 Abington. However, the visitors got out of the jam with a popout to first to end the inning, keeping their deficit small. Berks would then get back within one on an RBI double by Rhianna Roulston in the fifth, but Penn State Abington got that run back in the bottom of the frame when O'Hagan blasted her second round-tripper of the game to center field. The major action took place in the last two innings, however. In the sixth, Penn State Berks got back within one on an RBI groundout. Then, trailing 3-2 in the top of the seventh, the visitors tied the game on another RBI groundout before taking a 4-3 lead on a home run of their own by Colleen Hoge.
 
Finding themselves trailing suddenly, Penn State Abington got right back to work in the bottom of the frame. Jones got things started with a single, and after she was lifted for pinch runner Amanda McLean, Monterosso executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to move her into scoring position at second. O'Hagan was once again walked, and then Lineman grounded out to pitcher, moving both runners up but putting Abington on their last out. Sam Kidd came to the plate sitting at 0-for-3 to that point on the day. She picked a perfect time for her first hit of the day, however, lacing a sharp line drive off the glove of the Berks third baseman and into shallow left field. Both McLean and O'Hagan came home to score on the play, giving Penn State Abington the 5-4 walk-off victory. Drogalis earned the win in the pitcher's circle, scattering nine hits and just three earned runs while striking out two batters.
 
Penn State Berks exploded for nine runs in game two to take home a 9-1 victory, but Penn State Abington did a solid job on the day by earning a split with the defending NEAC champions and current conference leaders. The result moves the Nittany Lions to 10-2 in North Eastern Athletic Conference play. Penn State Berks sits just ahead of Abington with a 12-2 record, but the Abington still has two games in-hand on their interstate rivals. The Nittany Lions now face a trio of non-conference road doubleheaders over the next four days, starting with a pair against Montgomery County Community College tomorrow. After that set, Penn State Abington comes home for yet another key NEAC doubleheader, this time against Gallaudet on Thursday, with games slated for 3:00 and 5:00.