Penn State Scranton Softball Drops a Twin Bill to Kick-Off Conference Play

By: Ross Turetsky, Penn State Scranton Athletics

On a gorgeous spring day in the electric city, the Penn State Scranton softball team opened up their home schedule and their crucial first conference showdowns, as they dropped both ends of their five innings apiece doubleheader to rival Penn State Schuylkill by the scores of 16-0 and 20-1 respectively. With these losses, Scranton sees their overall record move to 3-5 and 0-2 in the all-important conference play, however, they have already gotten off to a solid start on the young season with two dominant non-conference victories on the road over Christendom, 18-3 and 10-2, last weekend, and just the other day they won the second game of their doubleheader at Bucks County Community College by the score of 13-4.

In game one, the road warrior Lions from Penn State Schuylkill jumped out to a fast start and never looked back, as they tallied seven runs in the first inning, three more in the third, and six in the fifth and final frame, before cruising to their dominant 16 run triumph. Schuylkill outpaced Scranton in the hit department as well in the contest, 23-2.

Scranton's offense was led by sophomore Olivia Shimonis and freshman third baseman Rachel Murray who accounted for their ball club's two hits in the matchup. Senior second baseman Sam Collins was the team's other base runner, as she drew a walk in the opening game.

Meanwhile, the powerful well-rounded offensive attack from Schuylkill had an awe-inspiring six players who had stand-out multi-hit performances, as freshman shortstop Mackenzie Carl, senior second baseman Meghan Stokes, sophomore pitcher Kaely Walshaw, senior catcher Kristina McConnell, sophomore left fielder Cheyenne Whitehead, and senior center fielder Caitlyn Goggin led the way for their squad. Carl was a perfect 4-4 at the dish, hammering two triples, scoring twice, and had an RBI. Stokes went 3-4 at the plate, with a trio of runs scored, and two RBI. Walshaw also was 3-4 in the contest, crushing a double, scoring two runs, and had an RBI to boot. McConnell went 3-4, with a hat trick of RBI, and scored a run. Whitehead was 3-4, scoring a run, and had an RBI. Last but certainly not least, Goggin went 3-4 at the plate, drilling a double, picking up three RBI, and scored twice.

On the pitching side of things, Scranton ace right-handed hurler Shimonis started on the mound and got the loss, as she tossed all five innings in the ball game. Meanwhile, Walshaw went the distance for her Schuylkill squad in her five shutout inning complete game effort, where she earned the win and struck out an impressive 10 Scranton batters, while only surrendering two hits, and one walk.

In the game two nightcap, Schuylkill once again got off to a red hot start, as they scored four runs in the top half of the first inning, five more in the fourth, and 11 in the fifth and final frame, while cruising to their dominant 19 run victory. Schuylkill also out hit Scranton by a 17-2 margin.

The Scranton Lions lone run on the day came in the bottom of the first inning, when they roared back after giving up four in the top half of the inning, when junior catcher and powerful cleanup hitter Kathryn Lahey smashed an RBI double to drive home Shimonis, who reached via a walk, to get her squad on the board. Lahey had a stellar game overall, as she went a perfect 2-2 at the dish, recording both of her team's hits in the contest.

Meanwhile, just like in the first game, Schuylkill flexed their offensive muscles, as they had a whopping six players who tallied multi-hit performances in the nightcap. Walshaw led the way going a flawless 4-4 at the plate, hitting a double, scoring three times, stole a base, and nabbed a trio of RBI. Stokes went 3-5, scoring a game-high four times, picking up two RBI, stole a base, and hammered a lead-off home run in the first inning. Sophomore third baseman Cealinn McGroarty was 2-3 at the dish, with a double, a walk, and scored two runs. Carl also went 2-3 at the plate, both hits being doubles, and tallied five RBI, scored twice, and reached base once via the walk. Junior Melanie Torrales went 2-4, smashed a triple, had a robust game-high six RBI, scored a run, and walked once to boot. Last but certainly not least, fellow junior Alyssa Youst was 2-5, scored twice, and had an RBI.

On the pitching side of things, sophomore Ashlyn McNally started on the mound for Scranton and got the loss in her 3 and 2/3 innings performance. Shimonis who started in game one, came in relief to finish up the day's long softball festivities, and threw the final 1 and 1/3 innings of the contest. As for Schuylkill, Freshman Miranda Hess earned the victory on the mound, as she tossed four solid innings, only giving up one earned run, two hits, one walk, and fanned eight Scranton batters. Finally, Torrales finished up the game by toeing the slab in the final inning, without giving up any runs, hits, or walks, and struck out one hitter.

Now veteran head coach Mar Tsakonas and her 3-5 Penn State Scranton softball squad will look to snap their mini two game losing skid when they next go on the road this Friday afternoon to face off against local non-conference foe the Clarks Summit University Defenders, with first pitch of the doubleheader scheduled for 3pm. Meanwhile, head coach Darle Cresswell and his Penn State Schuylkill ball club, who with these two victories over Scranton see their overall record improve to 5-3 and 2-0 in the crucial league play schedule, will look to extend their four game winning streak when they next go on the road to battle Washington Adventist in a twin bill this Sunday afternoon starting at 12 noon.