ALTOONA, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona softball team played its first home games of the 2024 season on Thursday, hosting non-conference opponent Grove City College for a doubleheader at Stewart Athletic Field.

Grove City (8-6) overcame deficits in each game, winning both ends of the doubleheader to sweep Penn State Altoona (6-5). In game one, the Wolverines trailed 1-0 going into the seventh inning before getting two runs across and ultimately winning 2-1. In game two, the Lions led 5-2 after five innings, only to see Grove City score six runs over the final two innings to prevail 8-5.

Game One: Grove City 2, Penn State Altoona 1

Penn State Altoona scored a run in the bottom of the first inning, then nursed their one-run lead throughout the game until the top of the seventh, when Grove City rallied for two to jump ahead and ultimately win.

Josselyn Nau (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte) took the tough-luck loss in the pitching circle for Penn State Altoona while dealing a complete game. The right-hander went all seven innings, scattering six hits, issuing no walks, and allowing no earned runs while striking out one batter.

Cameryn Feathers (Martinsburg, PA/Central) had two of Penn State Altoona's four hits, going 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, and a run batted in. Jordan Krawcion (Johnstown, PA/Central Cambria) and Hanna Lauck (Bellefonte, PA/Bellefonte) had one hit each for the Lions, and Alyssa Fisher (Lock Haven, PA/Central Mountain) scored her team's lone run.

Penn State Altoona grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Fisher started the frame by drawing a walk, and she moved up to second base following a sacrifice bunt put down by Brooke Colledge (Everett, PA/Everett). One batter later, Feathers' double to right scored Fisher to make it 1-0.

The Lions held their 1-0 advantage until the top of the seventh, when an error opened the door for Grove City to get on the scoreboard. With one out, Noel Anthony reached on an outfield error, and Jonalyn Wharry's two-out, pinch-hit single put two runners aboard for the Wolverines. The next batter, Rylie Eaton, doubled to center to score both runners, and the visitors claimed their first lead of the day, 2-1.

Grove City retired Penn State Altoona in order in the bottom of the seventh, the Wolverines completed their comeback win.

Game Two: Grove City 8, Penn State Altoona 5

The Lions built a 5-2 lead through five innings, but Grove City jumped ahead with a four-run top of the sixth, then padded its lead by adding two more in the seventh.

Lauck led Penn State Altoona at the plate by going 3-for-4 with a double, three RBI, and a stolen base, while Feathers finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored and a stolen base.

Colledge, Gianna Hoppel (Lewistown, PA/Mifflin County), Madison Sitarek (Sykesville, MD/Century), and Karli Storm (Chest Springs, PA/Cambria Heights) also recorded one hit apiece for the Lions, with Storm having a double and Sitarek notching one RBI and swiping a bag.

Colledge's hit allowed her to reach the 100-hit plateau for her collegiate career.

Brianna Bone (Morrisdale, PA/West Branch) got the nod at pitcher and finished with a no decision, yielding two runs over four innings of work. Madalyn Maynard (Towanda, PA/Towanda) tossed one scoreless inning in relief, and Nau pitched two innings and was handed the loss.

Penn State Altoona capitalized on a Grove City error in the bottom of the first to get two runs home. With two outs, Storm doubled to right center, and Feathers reached safely on an outfield error in the next at-bat, allowing Storm to score. Lauck followed with an RBI single to right-center field, making it 2-0.

The Lions tacked on another run in a two-out situation during the third inning. With two away, Feathers singled up the middle and put herself in scoring position by stealing second. Lauck drove her in with a double down the left-field line, and Penn State Altoona took a 3-0 advantage into the fourth.

Grove City got on the board in the top of the fourth, courtesy of an Ella Krarup RBI single to right. The Wolverines picked up another run in the top of the fifth, getting an RBI single into center field from Abigail Meadors.

But Penn State Altoona countered with two runs in the bottom half of the fifth. Singles by Colledge and Feathers put two runners on for the Lions, and Lauck's RBI single to right scored Colledge to make it 4-1. One batter later, Sitarek drove in Feathers with an infield hit to second, increasing Penn State Altoona's lead back to three, 5-2.

However, Grove City put together a four-run top of the sixth to grab its first lead of the game. Lauren Harris' two-run double to left cut the Wolverines' deficit to one, and RBI singles from Evelyn Montone and Maci Linhart gave the visitors a 6-5 lead later in the frame.

Grove City added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh, using Brooke Brodie's RBI triple to right and Meadors' run-scoring base hit up the middle to make it 8-5.

Penn State Altoona softball travels for its next games, as the Lions will head to Williamsport to face non-conference opponent Penn College in a doubleheader this Saturday, March 16. Game one is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.