CRESSON, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona softball team was handed its first losses of the 2021 season on Wednesday afternoon, when the Lions were swept in a doubleheader by Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference opponent Mount Aloysius College at the Walker Athletic Complex.

Penn State Altoona (3-2-1, 2-2 AMCC) lost game one 9-2, then suffered a tough loss in game two when Mount Aloysius (4-3-1, 2-2 AMCC) rallied for a 5-4 win in nine innings.

"After a game one that we really didn't do many things well, I thought we played with a lot of heart in game two," said Penn State Altoona head coach Joe Merilli. "Now, we need to figure out how to finish close games with victories."

Game One: Mount Aloysius 9, Penn State Altoona 2

Penn State Altoona was limited to two runs on five hits in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader. Olivia Smith (Martinsburg, PA/Central), Casey Reese (Cresson, PA/Penn Cambria), Kristen Hewitt (Coalport, PA/Glendale), Olivia Miller (West Newton, PA/Yough), and Brooke Bollman (Bedford, PA/Bedford) had one hit each for the Lions, with Smith, Miller, and Bollman's hits being doubles. Reese tallied her team's lone run batted in, and Brooke Colledge (Everett, PA/Everett) scored both of her squad's runs and also stole one base.

Reese pitched a complete game for Penn State Altoona, going six innings and striking out two batters in the loss.

Reese's RBI single to right-center in the top of the first gave the Lions an early lead, but Mount Aloysius tied the score in the bottom half of the inning. The home team proceeded to plate six more runs over the next three innings to hold a 7-1 advantage through four.

Colledge scored on a passed ball in the top of the sixth to get another run on the board for Penn State Altoona, but the Mounties tacked two more runs on to their total in the bottom of the sixth and won game one by seven.

Game Two: Mount Aloysius 5, Penn State Altoona 4 (Final/9 innings)

Mount Aloysius handed Penn State Altoona another loss in game two, this time pulling off a comeback in extra innings.

Hewitt finished with three of her team's eight hits, going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Reese was 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Smith went 2-for-5 with a run scored. Madison Lucas (Philipsburg, PA/Philipsburg-Osceola) was 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored.

Makenzie Lukehart (Utahville, PA/Glendale) started at pitcher and threw a strong game for the Lions, going eight innings and limiting Mount Aloysius to no earned runs on four hits and four walks. Reese tossed the final 2/3 inning and was saddled with the loss.

Reese broke a scoreless tie in the top of the sixth with an RBI single up the middle that put Penn State Altoona on the board.

After Mount Aloysius tied things up in the bottom of the seventh, Hewitt's RBI single in the top half of the eighth gave Penn State Altoona the lead again, 2-1. However, the Mounties tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth.

The Lions grabbed a 4-2 lead in the top of the ninth. Lucas put her team back in front with an RBI double, then scored on a throwing error later in the frame to give the visitors a two-run cushion.

But Mount Aloysius rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth, clinching the doubleheader sweep.

Penn State Altoona softball gets right back at it tomorrow, Thursday, April 8, when the Lions will travel to Chambersburg to face non-conference opponent Wilson College in a doubleheader. Game one is slated to start at 3:00 p.m.