READING, Pa. – The Albright Lions softball team could not recover from an early deficit as they dropped a 7-3 contest to Penn State Berks in non-conference play on a cold Tuesday afternoon.
 
The contest was originally scheduled as a doubleheader, but the second game was cancelled due to the worsening weather conditions during the conclusion of the first game. The loss drops the Lions to 10-11 overall, while the Nittany Lions tallied their 13^th straight win to move to 15-7-1.
 
The Lions acted as the home team at the Hintz Athletic Field after the games were moved there this morning from the Albright Softball Field due to field conditions from the heavy rain on Monday. Penn State Berks immediately jumped on the Lions in the first inning as they scored three runs on three hits and one error to take the early lead. The Nittany Lions first put runners on second and third with one out following a walk, a throwing error, and a stolen base. Berks then struck on an RBI single in the next at-bat, and added to its lead with a two-run single on the following batter. Freshman Nora Harrison would get the Lions on the board in the bottom of the second on a leadoff home run to cut the Nittany Lions lead down to 3-1. Albright then had an opportunity to score more runs in the bottom of the third when the first two runners reached base on an error and a single. Unfortunately for the Lions, they could not cash in despite the bases later becoming loaded in the inning with two outs.
 
After the teams traded 1-2-3 innings in the fourth inning, Berks then put the game away with a four run fifth on four hits and one error. The Nittany Lions put runners on second and third with no outs, and a single in the next at-bat scored the first run to make it 4-1. After a stolen base, Berks scored another run on a ground ball that in turn left the batter safe at first on a throwing error. The Nittany Lions put the finishing touches on their scoring with a two-run double in the following at-bat that brought the score to 7-1. Albright then quickly put its first two batters on base in the bottom of the fifth after freshman Mallory Moretti and sophomore Jessica Rodriguez each singled. Once again the Lions could do no more after that as Berks recorded the next three batters in order. After leaving runners on first and third with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, the Lions scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to make it 7-3. Rodriguez led off the inning by reaching on an error and would score on a RBI triple from junior Stephany Courtney. Courtney then scored the Lions final run on a wild pitch during the next at-bat before the final three Lions were retired in order.
 
Rodriguez was the only Lion to record multiple hits as she went 2-of-4 from the plate while scoring a run. Albright stranded eight runners in the loss. Senior pitcher Riley Gerenda suffered the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits in four innings, while Nittany Lions pitcher Jessica Rozick earned the win after allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and struck out eight batters. Freshman Lynsie Grant relieved Gerenda in the fifth and allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits while striking out one batter.
 
Albright will return to action tomorrow, April 18^th when they will host Stevenson in a MAC Commonwealth doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.