Scranton Softball Drops Twin Bill at Penn State New Kensington 

By: Ross Turetsky, Penn State Scranton Athletics 

In a Friday road matinee, the visiting Penn State Scranton Lions softball squad lost both ends of their doubleheader to conference foe Penn State New Kensington by the scores of 15-1 and 16-0 respectively. With the pair of defeats, Scranton's overall record moves to 7-12 and their now 2-6 in the all-important league play schedule. 

In the game one five inning affair, New Kensington slugged their way to a huge 14 run home triumph, as they tallied a trio of runs in the bottom half of the first inning, two more in the third, and an awe-inspiring 10 spot in the fourth frame. Scranton's lone run to avoid the dreaded shutout came in the top of the second inning. New Kensington out hit Scranton by a 16-7 margin in the contest.  

Scranton's base hits came from freshman center fielder Megan Gatto who also drove in her club's only run in the matchup, sophomore Alicia Gagner, stand-out sophomore Olivia Shimonis who crushed a double, junior shortstop Kathryn Lahey, senior first baseman Sarah Fastenau who scored the only run for her team, sophomore catcher Ashlyn McNally, and freshman third baseman Rachel Murray. 

Meanwhile, the Lions of New Kensington had a well-balanced offensive attack that had five players put up stalwart multi-hit ball games. Freshman left fielder Kiera Mack was a flawless 4-4 at the plate, cranking a pair of doubles and laced a triple, swiped a bag, scored four times, and had a game-high four RBI. Fellow freshman, catcher Antonia Velasquez went 3-4 at the dish, driving in two runs, and scored once. Freshman Addyson Gregg was 2-3, cranking two doubles, scoring a trio of runs, knocking in a pair, and walked once for good measure. Junior center fielder Molly Collins also went 2-3, drilling two doubles, walked once, drove in two, and scored a run. Last but certainly not least, freshman second baseman Delaney Sierka was a perfect 2-2, with a double, a walk, scored once, and stole a base to boot. 

On the pitching side of things, Shimonis started on the mound and took the loss, tossing a gritty four innings for her ball club. Meanwhile, New Kensington had Gregg toe the slab and earn the victory in her start, throwing a dazzling five innings, only allowing one earned run, no walks, seven hits, and fanned six Scranton batters on the day. 

In the game two five inning affair, New Kensington once again scored early and often and cruised to their commanding 16-0 shutout win. The hometown Lions put up four runs in the bottom half of the first inning, a robust 11 spot in the second, and one more for good measure in the third frame. Scranton was out hit by an 11-2 margin in the showdown. 

Scranton's hits came from Gatto, who also chipped in with a stolen base, and Lahey. Senior second baseman Sam Collins was the Lions other base runner, reaching via the walk. Meanwhile, New Kensington had a trio of players with impressive multi-hit performances in the battle, as freshman shortstop Kali Barnett, Sierka, and freshman Oliva Waldrop set the pace for their squad. Barnett was a perfect 3-3 at the plate, ripping a double, walking once, scoring three times, collected an RBI, and stole a base to boot. Sierka went 2-4, scored two runs, and drove in a pair. Lastly, Waldrop was a flawless 2-2 at the dish, hammering two doubles, swiped two bags, walked once, scored two runs, and tallied two RBI.  

In the pitching department, Scranton once again started Shimonis on the bump, as she took the loss while throwing all four innings for her club and struck out a batter in her outing. Meanwhile, Waldrop earned the win on the mound, tossing a complete game five inning shutout, allowing just two base hits, one walk, and fanned seven Scranton hitters in her dominant start.  

Now veteran head coach Mar Tsakonas and her 7-12 Penn State Scranton softball squad will look to snap their mini two game losing skid when they next go on the road to take on conference foe Penn State Fayette this Saturday for a doubleheader, with first pitch scheduled for 12 noon. Meanwhile, head coach Mike Marsili and his Penn State New Kensington ball club, who with these pair of victories over Scranton see their overall record improve to a red hot 16-4 and an almost perfect 7-1 mark in their crucial league play schedule, will look to extend their two game winning streak when they next host conference rival Penn State Hazleton this Saturday afternoon for a key doubleheader starting at 2pm.