LEESBURG, Fla. – The Penn State Altoona softball team recorded its first victory of the 2022 season on Sunday morning, defeating Capital University 9-1 at the Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex.

The Lions (1-2) produced nine runs through the first three innings en route to a run rule-shortened, five-inning win.

Jayde Burge (Philipsburg, PA/Philipsburg-Osceola) was 2-for-3 with a double and four runs batted in, and Gianna Hoppel (Lewistown, PA/Mifflin County) also had a two-hit day by going 2-for-3.

Brooke Boonie (Petersburg, PA/Juniata Valley) and Madison Lucas (Philipsburg, PA/Philipsburg-Osceola) each walked twice and scored a run. Cameryn Feathers (Martinsburg, PA/Central) was 1-for-2 with two runs scored, a walk, and a stolen base.

Casey Reese (Cresson, PA/Penn Cambria) pitched a complete game to pick up the win, going five innings and limiting Capital (0-1) to one unearned run on four hits and a walk while striking out three batters. At the plate, she was 1-for-2 with two RBI, two runs scored, and a walk.

Penn State Altoona scored three runs in the bottom of the first to grab the early lead. After Reese walked and Olivia Smith (Martinsburg, PA/Central) reached on an error, Burge delivered a two-run single to right later in the inning to score them both. Makenzie Lukehart (Utahville, PA/Glendale) picked up an RBI on a groundout to third, bringing Feathers home from third after she reached on a walk earlier in the frame.

Capital got a run back in the top of the second inning, when Kayedon Martin scored on a throwing error during a steal attempt to trim Penn State Altoona's advantage to 3-1.

But the Lions responded with four more runs in the bottom of the second. Lucas and Boonie walked to start the inning, and Brooke Colledge (Everett, PA/Everett) reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Reese's fielder's choice grounder scored Lucas, and Smith followed with a single to center that allowed Boonie to score. One batter later, Burge's two-run double to center extended Penn State Altoona's lead to 7-1.

Penn State Altoona widened its lead to eight runs in the third. With two outs, Reese's base hit through the left side scored Colledge, and Hannah Harlacher (York, PA/West York) scored on a fielding error to make it 9-1.

Reese and the Lions held Capital off of the scoreboard over the next two innings, and Penn State Altoona won after five innings courtesy of the eight-run rule.

Penn State Altoona softball now heads into an off day tomorrow, Monday, March 7, and the Lions will return to action for two more games on Tuesday, March 8 at Hancock Park in Clermont. That day, Penn State Altoona will face Delaware Valley University at 1:45 p.m. before taking on Marietta College at 4:00 p.m.

Note: Sunday's scheduled game between Penn State Altoona and Alfred University was cancelled due to an umpire shortage.