Penn College’s softball team is one step closer to a United East championship as the Wildcats won a best-of-three series in the second round of the United East playoffs against Saint Elizabeth, both via shutouts.

Penn College won the first game, 4-0, and earned an 8-0 win in game two to secure a semifinal berth on Friday, May 9.

In the first game, Montoursville graduate Mackenzie Weaver was superb in the circle, improving to 15-6, thanks to striking out eight and scattering three singles. Offensively, Harley Kunes, Weaver, Payton Crawford and Ryleigh Rinker all had two hits each. Crawford, Rinker and Colleen Cole had doubles in the game one victory.

Jersey Shore graduate Grace Lorson added a single as well for the Wildcats.

In the second game, it was more of the same.

Mackenzie Tice, a North Penn-Mansfield graduate, threw all six innings and improved to 11-4. She struck out 10 in the no-no performance, allowing just two walks.

At the plate, Lorson went 3 for 4 with two runs scored and Crawford went 3 for 3 with a double and a team-high three RBIs.

Sofia LaSpina hit a home run.

Penn College led 1-0 after the first inning and held a 3-0 lead through two. Penn College added four runs in the fifth inning to help secure the win.

Penn College has won seven of its last ten games and the back-to-back wins helped give the Wildcats a boost after going 1-3 in their last four games to close out the regular season.