ABINGTON, Pa. – Gallaudet University softball lost both games of a doubleheader against North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) foe Penn St.-Abington on Saturday afternoon 5-4 and 8-0 at Huntingdon Fields.

Junior pitcher Rachel Sweigart (Big Rock, Ill.) started the Bison (10-14, 0-4 NEAC) off with a bang in the first inning hitting a two-run home run to center field, which also scored freshman shortstop Chelsea Lee (South Brunswick, N.J.). The Nittany Lions quickly answered with a run in the bottom half of the first. Alyssa Virginio singled up the middle to score Cara Fiala (3-for-4), who reached on a single and advanced on a fielding error and added a stolen base.

Penn St.-Abington (9-3, 4-0 NEAC) tied the game at two in the bottom of the second inning and took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when the Nittany Lions scored three runs to take a 5-2 lead. The Bison didn't give up as they chipped away at the deficit and pushed across a run in the fifth and sixth innings.

Lee went 2-for-3 at the plate with a walk and a run scored. Senior center fielder Alicia Johnson (San Jose, Calif.) went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Junior right fielder Elena Ciccarelli (Whitesboro, N.Y.) went 1-for-2 with a sacrifice fly and an RBI. Sweigart (5-6) pitched all six innings for the Bison, giving up five runs on 12 hits with one strikeout.

Sam Kidd led the Nittany Lions at the plate going 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Trish Watson went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Michaela Drogalis (8-2) threw all seven innings and gave up four runs on nine hits, one walk and two strikeouts.

Gallaudet was unable to get a run across the plate in the second game and lost to the mercy rule, 8-0 in five innings. With GU already down by four going into the fifth inning Abington scored four additional runs, which included a three-run home run by Sheila O'Hagan to end the game. It was O'Hagan's second home run of the game as she connected on a two-run homer in the bottom of the third inning and had a RBI double in the first. She finished the day 3-for-3, drove in six RBIs and scored two runs.

Ciccarelli went 1-for-1 with a walk and Johnson had two walks for the Bison. Sophomore pitcher Montana Murphy (Simi Valley, Calif.) took the loss as she is now 5-6 on the season. Murphy pitched 4.1 innings giving up eight runs (seven earned) on six hits and one walk.

Michaela Drogalis (9-2) threw five innings and gave up no runs on four hits and three walks.

Gallaudet will play College of St. Elizabeth in a NEAC doubleheader at 11 a.m. tomorrow (Sunday, April 7).