The University of Mary Washington softball team swept Penn State-Harrisburg University, 8-0 and 8-1, on Saturday afternoon at the Battleground. The Eagles improve to 17-11 on the season, and 5-5 in conference play.
In the opener, UMW scored two runs in the third and fourth, three in the fifth, and one in the sixth for the win. With one on in the fourth, Olivia Tatara homered to left field to give the Eagles a comfortable lead.
In the fifth inning, Hannah Hautz led off by doubling down the left field line. Brittnee Haynes wasted no time by driving in Hautz in the next at bat. Hannah Otterman picked up where her teammates left off, doubling to center, scoring Haynes. Otterman capped the scoring in the fifth by scoring on an error by Penn State-Harrisburg.
In the sixth inning, the scoring for the game was capped when Hautz hit a single to center, scoring Alex Tenney.
Otterman gained the win, allowing one hit while striking out seven batters.
In the second game, the Eagles scored one run in the first and third, while powering in six runs in the second.
In the second inning, Tatara singled and later scored on an error made by Penn State-Harrisburg during a Hannah Williams sacrifice. Kate Chisholm then singled to center, driving in Williams to give the Eagles their second run of the inning. A single by Alex Tenney drove in Chisholm to make the score 4-1. The Eagles stayed hot as Emily Briggs drove in Tenney when she singled to center field. Scoring in the second was capped when Tatara singled to center field, scoring teammates Hautz and Briggs.
In the third, Brittany Scites singled to center field to score Chisholm, making the score 8-0. Penn State-Harrisburg scored a run late in the fifth to avoid losing by the eight run rule.
Courtney Merson picked up the win for the Eagles, pitching 4.2 innings, giving up three hits, and striking out five. Ashton Ferneyhough relieved Merson, giving up only two hits, and striking out three. Briggs, Chisholm, and Tatara each contributed two hits in the second game to capture the sweep.
The Eagles will be back in action on Sunday at the Battleground as they take on York (Pa.) in a CAC doubleheader at 12:00 PM.