BEAVER FALLS, Pa. - The Penn State Altoona softball team competed in three exhibition games this past Saturday, September 30 at Geneva College as part of their non-traditional fall season at Geneva College.

In game one, Penn State Altoona defeated Penn State Beaver 3-0. Pitchers Sidney Shultz and Taylor Shildt combined for the shutout, with Shultz getting the win after going five innings and Shildt picking up the save. Abby Showers started the scoring in the fifth inning with a two-out double, driving in Julia Helbling. Jessica Willits and Shildt each had RBIs in the game.

In game two against Carlow University, Shildt and Shultz held the opposition to one unearned run over seven innings. Shildt pitched the first five innings, and Shultz took over for the last two. The Lady Lions trailed 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth, but three freshmen came through with the go-ahead runs. Cassidy Stover and Olivia Miller both scored runs in a two-RBI single by Emily Prather to give Penn State Altoona a 2-1 lead. Shultz retired Carlow in the seventh to seal the comeback win.

In game three against Westminster College, the Lady Lions jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a run-scoring double by Cassidy Stover. Shildt got the start in the circle and went the first four innings before giving way to Shultz for the last two innings in a time-restricted, six-inning game. Westminster was limited to two unearned runs in the fourth inning, and the game ended in a 2-2 tie.

On the day, Penn State Altoona's pitching combined to throw 20 innings, giving up just three unearned runs while striking out 15 batters. Newcomers Prather, Miller, and Shildt each had three hits, as did sophomore Willits. Stover added two hits and two RBI, and Prather also finished the day with two RBI.

Penn State Altoona softball now eagerly awaits the start of its traditional season in Spring 2018, with expectations for an outstanding season.