Scranton Lady Lions Softball Splits Doubleheader on Senior Day

By: Ross Turetsky, Penn State Scranton Athletics

On a Tuesday afternoon in the electric city, the Penn State Scranton Lions softball squad split a home doubleheader against non-conference foe Bucks County Community College, losing a nail-biter 11-10 in the opening contest and bouncing right back to win a close 9-8 ball game in the second game. After coming out victorious in one of the two matchups and snapping their 11 game losing skid, Scranton now sees their overall record improve to 8-21 and their all-important league mark remains at 2-12 with only four games remaining in their 2023 regular season campaign. The day was also made extra special by the Lions honoring their two graduating senior ball players in Kelly Velehoski and Sam Collins during the team's annual Senior Day festivities.

In the game one seven inning affair, the hometown Lions from Scranton jumped out to an early 6-2 advantage after just the first two innings and held a sizeable 10-6 lead going into the sixth frame. However, Bucks County came roaring back by scoring a run in the top half of the sixth to cut the deficit to 10-7 and in the seventh and final frame they put up the decisive four spot to seize the one run, 11-10 advantage they would enjoy by game's end after holding Scranton scoreless in the final two innings of the battle. Overall, Scranton was out hit by a 16-6 margin in the opening contest, although they did show tremendous patience at the plate winning the walk battle 13-0.

Scranton had the dynamic duo of stand-out sophomore Olivia Shimonis and freshman shortstop Rachel Murray put up stellar multi-hit performances in the showdown. Shimonis went 2-3 at the plate, walking twice, scored a pair of runs, and drove home two. Murray also was 2-3 at the dish, drilling a double, walking once, and tallied a run. The Lions other RBI came from Velehoski, who was 1-3, stole a base, scored twice, walked once, and drove home a pair, sophomore catcher Ashlyn McNally was 1-3, scored once, and knocked one in, and freshman center fielder Megan Gatto, sophomore second baseman Alicia Gagner, junior third baseman Kathryn Lahey, and sophomore left fielder Maria Keifer each drove home a run in the team's well-balanced offensive attack.

Meanwhile, Bucks County had a whopping five players tally impressive multi-hit games, as sophomore pitcher Katheryn Hastings, freshman catcher Madelyn Hower, fellow freshman, third baseman Shana Gugliandolo, freshman center fielder Allie Micklo, and freshman left fielder Jennaviere Logue set the pace for their club. Hastings led the way with a game-high four hits, going a perfect 4-4 at the dish, crushing a double, scoring a trio of runs, and knocking in a pair. Hower was 3-4 at the plate, hammering a big two run home run in the top of the fifth, smacked a double, scored a couple of runs, and had a game-high five RBI. Gugliandolo also went 3-4 and scored twice. Micklo was 2-5, scored once, and picked up an RBI. Last but certainly not least, Logue was 2-4 and knocked in a run.

On the pitching side of things, Scranton started Shimonis on the mound and she picked up the hard luck one run defeat, as she threw all seven gritty innings for her club and struck out five batters while walking no one. Meanwhile, Bucks County had Hastings toe the slab first for her squad and she threw 4 1/3 innings, giving up 10 earned runs, 10 bases on balls, four base hits, and fanned a quartet of Scranton hitters. Freshman hurler Juliana Winglet came in relief out of the bullpen and earned the hard fought win on the bump, tossing a dazzling 2 2/3 shutout innings, surrendering just a pair of hits, walked three, and struck out a hat trick of hitters in her commanding appearance.

In the game two nightcap seven inning affair, Bucks County raced out to a big 8-4 lead heading into the sixth inning after tallying a robust five runs in the top of the first and a trio in the fourth. However, the Lady Lions would show tremendous resiliency and determination of their own, as they roared back and put up the decisive five spot in the bottom half of the sixth frame to seize the late lead and hold onto the slim one run, 9-8 home triumph after holding their opponent scoreless in the final three innings of play. Scranton out hit Bucks County by a razor thin 12-11 margin in the contest and won the walk battle over their opponent 6-2.

Scranton had a trio of players who had stalwart multi-hit performances in the nightcap, as Shimonis, Gagner, and McNally led the way on offense. Shimonis was a flawless 3-3 at the dish, cranking a triple, walking once, scored a run, and collected an RBI. Gagner went 2-4 at the plate, both hits being booming doubles, tallied a couple of runs, and had a game-high four RBI. Lastly, McNally was 2-2, walked once, and score a run. The other Lions RBI came from Velehoski, who was 1-4 with a nice triple and knocked one in, and Lahey was also 1-4, scored once, swiped a bag, and drove home a pair. Scranton's other base knocks came from Murray, freshman left fielder Sara McNichols, and senior first baseman Sarah Fastenau who each had a hit and a walk in the matchup.

Meanwhile, Bucks County had the dynamic offensive combo of Gugliandolo and Logue who each had stalwart multi-hit ball games. Gugliandolo was a perfect 4-4 at the dish, getting her club first on the scoreboard with an RBI double in the opening inning and then going deep with a big three run homer in the top of the fourth, to go along with scoring twice, and having a team-high four RBI. Logue had a solid 2-4 performance at the plate. Honorable mention goes to Hower who matched her two run bomb in game one with another mammoth two run homer, this time in the first inning, as she went 1-4, scored once, and drove home a pair during the festivities.

In the pitching department, Shimonis got the start on the mound just like in game one for Scranton, this time picking up a hard earned one run victory, tossing all seven innings, allowing eight earned runs, 11 hits, a pair of walks, and fanned a couple of batters. Meanwhile, Bucks County had Winglet start the second game and she picked up the tough loss, throwing all six innings, giving up nine earned runs, 12 base hits, six walks, and struck out a trio of Scranton hitters in her outing.

Now veteran head coach Mar Tsakonas and her 8-21 Penn State Scranton softball squad will look to continue their winning ways when they play their final two home games of the regular season this Friday afternoon, when they battle conference foe Penn State Brandywine in a crucial doubleheader, with first pitch scheduled for 2pm. Meanwhile, head coach Meagan Finnerty and her 3-14 Bucks County Community College ball club will look to bounce back and get in the win column when they next go on the road this Saturday afternoon for a doubleheader against Monroe College starting at 12 noon.