Softball Loses Thriller to Penn State Brandywine

ASTON, Pa. – Penn State Schuylkill Softball endured a tough loss on the second day of the PSUAC playoffs against Penn State Brandywine in a hard fought ten-inning battle.

Schuylkill struck first in the instant classic as singles by Kaely Walshaw (Dornsife, PA / Line Mountain High School) and Alyssa Youst (Schuylkill Haven, PA / Blue Mountain High School) set the stage for a Walshaw run in the top of the first inning. Schuylkill managed to retire three consecutive Brandywine batters in the bottom of the inning.

Brandywine responded in the bottom of the second with a double and a ground out, positioning themselves to score. They capitalized with a single to centerfield, knotting the score at 1-1. Brandywine secured their second run after a fielding error in the following frame, gaining a slight advantage.

Walks by Jade Weiss (Pottsville, PA / Pottsville Area High School) and Morgan Kleckner (Hamburg, PA / Hamburg Area High School), along with a single by Walshaw, loaded the bases for Schuylkill in the top of the fifth. Schuylkill leveled the score with a sacrifice fly by Youst, bringing Weiss home. In a similar fashion, Schuylkill seized the lead in the top of the eighth with a sacrifice fly from Emma Crisswell (Williamstown, PA / Williams Valley High School), making it 3-2. However, Brandywine responded by tying the score in the bottom of the eighth inning following a groundout.

A sacrifice fly by Walshaw in the top of the ninth restored Schuylkill's lead as she brought home Cealinn McGroarty (New Boston, PA / Mahanoy Area High School). Nevertheless, Brandywine rallied once more, hitting a double in the bottom of the inning with two outs, equalizing the score and pushing the game into extra innings.

Schuylkill displayed resilience, scoring their fifth run with a sacrifice fly by Mackenzie Carl (Tower City, PA / Williams Valley High School) in the top of the tenth, bringing home Kleckner. However, Brandywine capitalized on the extra inning, sealing the game with two runs from two singles in the bottom of the tenth.

Walshaw went a flawless 4-4 at-bat with an RBI, while Youst led the team with two RBIs.