SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. – Penn State Schuylkill Softball split their doubleheader with Norte Dame of Maryland on Tuesday.

Game One: Norte Dame 4, Penn State Schuylkill 2

Notre Dame took an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first with a home run that brought in three runs. Notre Dame extended their lead to 4-0 following a fielder's choice.

Mackenzie Carl (Tower City, PA / Williams Valley High School) singled in the top of the fifth inning and advanced along with Morgan Kleckner (Hamburg, PA / Hamburg Area High School) following an error. Kleckner stole second base on the next play. A sacrifice fly by Alyssa Youst (Schuylkill Haven, PA / Blue Mountain High School) drove in a run for Carl, while a single by Kaely Walshaw (Dornsife, PA / Line Mountain High School) brought Kleckner home. Despite a solid fifth inning, Schuylkill was unable to mount a comeback in the first matchup.

Walshaw, Isabela Caruso (Gilbertsville, PA / Pope John Paul II High School), and Cealinn McGroarty (New Boston, PA / Mahanoy Area High School) all finished 2-3 at bat. Walshaw and Youst recorded RBIs for Schuylkill. Walshaw went the distance on the mound, striking out ten batters.

Game Two: Penn State Schuylkill 3, Norte Dame 1

Emily Brent (Elysburg, PA / Southern Columbia Area High School) singled in the top of the third inning and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. A single by Carl moved Brent to third base on the next play. Up next was Kleckner, whose home run gave Schuylkill three early runs in the game. Notre Dame scored in the top of the sixth following a double, but their comeback efforts were short as Schuylkill closed them out in six innings.

Kleckner's home run gave her three RBIs in the win. Emma Crisswell (Williamstown, PA / Williams Valley High School) won her pitching duel, going the distance and striking out 12 batters. Crisswell surpassed the 100-strikeout threshold for the season during this game.

Schuylkill (11-5 overall, 3-1 PSUAC) will return to action on Friday as they travel to Penn State Mont Alto.