Scranton Lady Lions Softball Falls to Fayette

By: Ross Turetsky, Penn State Scranton Athletics

On a Saturday afternoon road matinee, the visiting Penn State Scranton Lions softball squad dropped both ends of their doubleheader against conference foe Penn State Fayette by the scores of 21-1 and 25-0 respectively. With these pair of losses, Scranton sees their overall record move to 7-14 and 2-8 in the all-important league play schedule.

In the game one five inning affair, Fayette scored early and often, as they put up a trio of runs in the bottom half of the first inning, two more in the second, a robust nine spot in the third, and seven times in the fourth frame, as they cruised to their big 21-1 home triumph. Scranton's lone run in the contest to avoid the dreaded shutout on offense came in the top of the fourth inning. Overall, Scranton was out hit in the showdown by a 23-5 margin.

The Lions from Scranton got big doubles from a trio of sophomores in left fielder Alicia Gagner, stand-out slugger Olivia Shimonis who also chipped in with a walk, and catcher Ashlyn McNally. The other Lady Lions base knocks came from junior shortstop Kathryn Lahey and freshman third baseman Rachel Murray who walked once, stole a base, and drove in the only run for her club in the fourth when she drilled a nice RBI single to center field to score McNally. Scranton's other base runner came from freshman center fielder Megan Gatto who reached once via the walk.

Meanwhile, Fayette had a well-balanced offensive attack where five of their players had impressive multi-hit performances, as freshman catcher Olivia Logan, fellow freshman, shortstop Carissa Caldwell, freshman Liz Murphy, sophomore third baseman Sammi McGhee, and junior left fielder Emily Conklin set the pace for their team. Logan went a perfect 5-5 at the plate, cranking a pair of doubles, scored a hat trick of runs, drove in two, and stole a base to boot. Caldwell was a near perfect 4-5 at the dish, raking three doubles and hit a triple, scored four times, and had a game-high four RBI. Murphy was a flawless 4-4, walking once, scoring twice, and drove in two. McGhee went 3-4, walked once, swiped two bags, scored four times, and collected two RBI. Last but certainly not least, Conklin also was 3-4, scoring a couple of runs, and drove in two.

On the pitching side of things, Shimonis got the start on the mound for Scranton and she tossed a gritty four innings, allowing nine earned runs, six bases on balls, and struck out a batter. Meanwhile, Fayette had Murphy toe the slab first and she threw 2 1/3 innings, allowing no runs, gave up just a pair of hits, three walks, and fanned a hitter. Lastly, freshman righty Madison Cyphert came in relief out of the bullpen and earned the victory on the bump, throwing 2 and 2/3 innings, surrendering an earned run, a trio of hits, and walked no one.

In the game two nightcap five innings affair, Fayette once again scored early and often, as they tallied 10 runs in the bottom of the first, a dozen in the third, and three more for good measure in the fourth, as they coasted to their dominant 25-0 triumph.

Scranton's offense was held hitless in the nightcap, while Fayette banged out an awe-inspiring 20 hits, walked eight times, and had seven players put up stellar multi-hit ball games. Logan led the way going 4-4 at the plate, smashed a grand slam home run over the left field fence in the first inning, ripped a double, walked once, scored a quartet of runs, had a game-high eight RBI, and stole a base to boot. Senior first baseman Cassidy Uphold also was a perfect 4-4 in the battle, with a double, walked once, scored a trio of runs, and drove in a pair. Caldwell went 2-4, stole a base, walked once, scored four times, and picked up an RBI. Senior center fielder Lauran Minerd was also 2-4, cranked a double, scored a hat trick of runs, drove in three, and reached via the walk for good measure. Conklin went 2-5, scoring once, and had a couple of RBI. Cyphert was 2-4, with a double, a walk, scored two runs, and drove in three. Last but not least, junior second baseman Daelin Burnsworth went 2-3, with a double, a stolen base, a walk, scored a pair, and collected an RBI.

In the pitching department, McNally started for Scranton and went 2/3 of an inning on the mound, allowing four earned runs, a hit, and walked seven. Shimonis came in relief out of the pen and went the rest of the way, tossing a gritty 3 and 1/3 innings on the bump and struck out a batter. Meanwhile, Fayette started senior right-hander Hayley White and she earned the commanding complete game victory, throwing a perfect five innings without giving up any hits, runs, or walks, and fanned four Scranton hitters on the day.

Now veteran head coach Mar Tsakonas and her 7-14 Penn State Scranton softball squad will look to bounce back and snap their four game losing skid when they next go on the road to face off with local non-conference foe the Clarks Summit University Defenders for a doubleheader this Tuesday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 3pm. Meanwhile, head coach Alex Rohlf and her Penn State Fayette ball club, who with these pair of victories over Scranton improved their overall record to 10-8 and 6-2 in crucial league play, will look to extend their three game winning streak when they next host conference rival Penn State Beaver in a big doubleheader this Tuesday starting at 3pm.