Scranton Lions Softball Drops Conference Opener Doubleheader

By: Ross Turetsky, Penn State Scranton Athletics

On Tuesday afternoon, the road warrior Penn State Scranton Lions softball squad fell in a pair of hard fought contests against league foe Penn State Mont Alto to kick-off their crucial conference play schedule by the scores of 14-9 in game one and 8-5 in the nightcap. With these defeats, Scranton sees their overall record go to 1-11 and they are 0-2 in league play.

In the opening contest, the hometown Mont Alto ball club jumped out to a sizeable 5-0 advantage after just three innings of play. However, in the top half of the fourth frame, the Lions from Scranton came roaring right back, as they put up an impressive seven spot to seize the lead and go up 7-5. Mont Alto would come back immediately in the bottom of the fourth, as they plated a trio of runs to regain the lead and go up 8-7. Scranton would score a pair in the top of the fifth to retake the lead by a 9-8 margin, before Mont Alto would storm back with a whopping six spot in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the five run, 14-9, advantage they would enjoy by game's end. Overall, Mont Alto out hit Scranton 16-6 in the highly competitive showdown.

Scranton was led on the offensive side of the ball by their sophomore starting pitcher Aryanna Bodge and freshman first baseman Abbylynn Colleran who each had stellar multi-hit performances for their team. Bodge went 2-4 at the plate, with a clutch two run double in the fourth to knot up the game at 5-5, and scored a run as well. Colleran also went 2-4 at the dish and had two RBI. The Lions other two hits came off the bats of their sophomore shortstop Madison Kelsch who went 1-3, drew a walk, and tallied a couple of runs and their freshman right fielder Jaden Willis was 1-3, walked once, scored a run, and knocked one in.

Meanwhile, Mont Alto had an impressive six players put up stalwart multi-hit games in the opening contest, as Kira Weikert, who also homered, Paige Loudenslager, Alyssa Wiles, Hailey Spielman, Terri Williams, and Abigail Cunningham set the pace for their ball club.

On the pitching side of things, Scranton had Bodge toe the slab, as she went the distance throwing all six innings of the ball game, walking only one, and fanning five Mont Alto batters. As for Mont Alto, MacKenzie Stake started on the mound, as she pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing just one lone hit, five earned runs, walked six, and struck out six Scranton hitters. Dani-Lynn Barklow finished up the match, tossing 3 1/3 innings, surrendering a pair of earned runs, five hits, walked two, and fanned a batter.

In the game two nightcap, Mont Alto jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first, before Scranton rallied and plated a quartet of runs in the top half of the third inning to capture the early 4-2 advantage. However, Mont Alto bounced right back and scored once in the bottom of the third and put up a big five spot in the fourth frame to seize an 8-4 lead. Scranton scored one more time in the top of the fifth but in the end fell by a slim three run, 8-5 margin by game's end. Mont Alto ended up out hitting Scranton by a 14-8 margin in the battle.

Scranton had one player put up a multi-hit performance in game two, as stand-out senior third baseman Olivia Shimonis led the way going 2-4 at the dish, scored once, had an RBI, and stole a base for good measure. Scranton's other six hits in the contest came off the bats of Bodge, sophomore center fielder Vanessa Hodges who cranked a nice double, fellow sophomore Genevieve Moyles, sophomore catcher Kaleena Lukasewicz, freshman second baseman Kelsi Howe, and Willis.

Meanwhile, Mont Alto had once again six players with top notch multi-hit ball games in the nightcap, as Wiles, Loudenslager, Weikert, Spielman, left fielder Rachel Alleman, and Lauren Allison led the way for their squad.

On the pitching side of things, Scranton had Kelsch on the bump, as she threw a complete game, tossing all six frames, allowing six earned runs, walking only one, and fanning a pair of Mont Alto batters. As for Mont Alto, Loudenslager earned the complete game victory, throwing all seven innings, giving up four earned runs, eight hits, walked four, and struck out a hat trick of Scranton hitters during the festivities.

Now veteran head coach Mar Tsakonas and her 1-11 Penn State Scranton Lions softball squad will look to bounce right back and snap their five game losing streak when they next host nearby conference rival Penn State Hazleton in a big doubleheader this Friday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for a 2pm start.