Scranton Lions Softball Sweeps Twin Bill

By: Ross Turetsky, Penn State Scranton Athletics

On a picturesque spring Saturday afternoon, the visiting Penn State Scranton Lions softball squad snapped their mini three game losing streak and won both ends of their crucial conference road doubleheader against Penn State Fayette by a score of 2-1 in the opener and 9-4 in the night cap. With the pair of victories, Scranton sees their overall record improve to 6-15 and they are now all even at 5-5 in their all-important league play schedule with just a week left in their 2025 regular season campaign.

After both ball clubs traded a run apiece in the first inning of play, Scranton would seize the 2-1 lead plating the go-ahead run in the top half of the fifth frame when their freshman right fielder Jaden Willis came through with a clutch RBI double to right field to drive home their freshman second baseman Kelsi Howe. That big run made all the difference, as Scranton held on to the nail-biting one run victory by contest's end. Overall both ball clubs each had two hits apiece in the opener.

Scranton's other key offense came from their sophomore catcher Genevieve Moyles who cranked a nice double and senior stand-out third baseman Olivia Shimonis had her team's other RBI driving home their sophomore pitcher Aryanna Bodge on a run scoring groundout to open up the scoring in the first inning.

Meanwhile, Fayette's two hits came off the bats of their sophomore center fielder Sophia Zalar, who also tallied her club's only run in the battle stealing home in the first frame, and their fellow sophomore, pitcher Taryn Stewart, who each went 1-3 at the dish. Fayette's only other base runners came from their junior shortstop Liz Murphy who drew a couple of walks during the festivities.

On the pitching side of things, Scranton's Bodge toed the slab and dominated all day long in her victorious effort, as she went the distance allowing just one earned run, two base hits, walked a pair, and fanned an awe-inspiring 13 Fayette batters during her commanding performance. Meanwhile, Fayette had Stewart on the bump and she tossed a rock solid complete game effort, throwing all seven frames, surrendering just one earned run, a couple of hits, walked four, and struck out seven Scranton batters on the day.

Meanwhile, in the game two nightcap, both clubs were all knotted up at 1-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth frame when Fayette plated a hat trick of runs to snag a formidable three run, 4-1, lead heading into the final inning of the contest. Just when their hopes looked dim, the road warrior Lions came roaring right back, exploding for eight runs in the seventh and final frame to capture the big road comeback five run, 9-4, triumph by game's end. Overall Scranton out hit their opponent by a 10-6 margin during the match.

Scranton's offense was led by a trio of their players who put up stellar multi-hit performances in the second game, as Bodge, sophomore third baseman Madison Kelsch, and Moyles set the pace for their squad. Bodge went 3-5 at the dish, driving in a pair, scored three times, and stole a base for good measure. Kelsch was a solid 2-4 at the plate, drilled a double, walked once, scored a run, and had two RBI. Moyles went 2-3, with a walk, and tallied a run. Scranton's other three hits came off the bats of Howe who was 1-3 with a run scored, Shimonis who went 1-5 and drove in one, and Willis who went 1-3 at the dish, drew a walk, scored once, and had an RBI.

For Fayette's offense, they were led by Zalar who was the lone player on her team to record a multi-hit game in the nightcap, going 2-4 at the plate, swiping a quartet of bases, and scored twice. Fayette's other four hits in the contest came off the bats of Murphy who went 1-3, bashing a double, walked once, scored a run, and knocked one in, sophomore catcher Julie Cooper was 1-2 with a nice triple, tallied a run, and had an RBI, Stewart went 1-3 and drove one in, and sophomore third baseman Kylie Stevenson also was 1-3 in the showdown.

On the pitching side of things, Scranton started Shimonis on the mound and she tossed the first three frames, only allowing one earned run, three base hits, and had one strikeout. Bodge who started game one, came in relief out of the bullpen and threw the final four innings of the contest, giving up three earned runs, a trio of hits, walked only one, and fanned six batters in her victorious effort. Meanwhile, Fayette had a hat trick of pitchers on the bump in game two, as Murphy started on the mound and threw the first two innings, allowing one earned run, one hit, walked three, and struck out a pair of Scranton hitters. Cooper came in next out of the pen and tossed four and a third innings, surrendering four earned runs, six hits, a couple of walks, and fanned five batters. Last but certainly not least, Stewart pitched the final two thirds of an inning, giving up four earned runs, three hits, walked three, and struck out a hitter.

Now veteran Penn State Scranton softball head coach Mar Tsakonas and her 6-15 ball club will look to stay red hot and win their third straight ball game and improve their solid 5-5 conference mark when they next go on the road the day after Easter to take on league rival Penn State Schuylkill in a crucial doubleheader this Monday, with first pitch scheduled for a 2pm start time. Meanwhile, head coach Becky Howell and her 1-13 Penn State Fayette squad, who are 1-7 in conference play, will look to snap their four game losing skid when they next face off against league foe Penn State Mont Alto in a home doubleheader this Tuesday afternoon, with first pitch slated for 2pm.