Penn State Scranton Drops Doubleheader to New Kensington on Senior Day

By: Ross Turetsky, Penn State Scranton Athletics

Dunmore, PA - On a sunny, warm day in the electric city, Penn State Scranton's softball squad fell to conference foe Penn State New Kensington by the scores of 24-4 and 17-0 respectively. Making the games extra special was Scranton having their annual Senior Day pre-game festivities to honor their lone senior this year Danielle Powell. Powell is a rare four sport varsity athlete, as she excels not only in softball, but also as a key member of the volleyball, soccer, and women's basketball teams as well. After this defeat, the Lady Lions from Scranton see their overall record stand at 0-18 and 0-16 in the all-important conference play. Meanwhile, New Kensington with the victory snapped a five game losing streak and improves their overall campaign to 4-12 and 4-10 in league play.

In game one, New Kensington's bats proved to be very mighty, as they banged out 22 hits and 24 runs in the contest, as they had a robust eight players who had stellar multi-hit ball games. Freshman shortstop Lianna Gonzalez went 3-5, scoring four runs, drawing a walk, and knocking in three runs. Freshman Illeana Ramirez was 2-3, scoring a trio of runs, with a walk, and two RBI. Freshman Marissa Bruns was a perfect 3-3, with four runs, four RBI, and two bases on balls. Freshman second baseman Elliott Ferrent was 3-5, scoring a pair of runs, and had 4 RBI. Sophomore center fielder Molly Collins went 2-5, having a hat trick of runs, and 3 RBI. Sophomore catcher Abby Kane was 3-4 at the plate, scoring two runs, drawing a walk, and knocking in a pair of runs. Freshman third baseman Taylor Hill went 2-4, with a walk, and two RBI. Last but certainly not least, sophomore left fielder Courtney Biswick had a 2-4 game, scoring three times, and reaching once via the walk.

Meanwhile, Scranton roared back and showed some impressive fight after going down early 20-0, as they scored two runs in the bottom half of the third inning and two more in the fifth and final frame to account for all four runs they scored on the day and their solid eight hits in this opening game. The hometown Lady Lions had three players who had stalwart multi-hit games, as Powell, freshman catcher Alicia Gagner, and sophomore infielder Cindy Perricone led the way offensively. Powell had a stand-out game on Senior Day, as she was a perfect 2-2, scoring a pair of runs, and drew a walk as well. Gagner went 2-3, hammering a single and a double at the plate, scoring a run, and driving in two runs in the contest. Finally, Perricone was a solid 2-3, with an RBI, and a stolen base to boot.

On the pitching side of things in game one, New Kensington had their right-handed hurler Bruns pick up the victory on the mound after throwing two shutout innings, without giving up a hit, and fanning five Scranton batters in the ball game. In relief of Bruns, their lefty, Ramirez, threw the last three innings of the contest, giving up four earned runs on eight hits, while striking out seven hitters. Meanwhile for Scranton, freshman right-handed hurler Olivia Shimonis got the start on the mound and threw four innings, while Perricone chipped in with an inning as well.

In the nightcap in game two, New Kensington jumped out to an early 17-0 advantage through the first three innings of the matchup, as they scored nine runs in the top half of the first, five in the second, and three more in the third frame before being shutdown offensively in the final two innings of the ball game. New Kensington's powerful offense picked up 14 hits while scoring 17 runs in game two, as they had five players put up multi-hit performances. Gonzalez went 2-3, scoring a trio of runs, and having a game-high 5 RBI. Ferrent was 2-4 with an RBI. Collins at the plate was 2-3, scoring a run, drawing a walk, and knocking in three runs. Hill went 3-4 and scored three runs. Last but certainly not least, freshman first baseman Ashley Encarnacion had a solid 2-3 game, with two RBI, and scoring three runs.

Meanwhile, Scranton's offense was held mostly in check, as they totaled five base runners in game two, as they had three hits and two walks in the five inning affair. The Lady Lions three hits came from Powell who led off the game with a nice single up the middle, Gagner who ripped a solid single to left field in the first, and sophomore second baseman Gabby Judge who blooped a single to center field in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Lions two walks came from freshman left fielder Maria Keifer and Perricone, who also stole her second base on the day.

Toeing the rubber for New Kensington in the nightcap, Bruns picked up her second win on the mound, as she threw two shutout innings. Bruns was backed up in relief by a pair of lefties, as sophomore Andrea Eiler and Ramirez combined for three shutout innings out of the bullpen, while only giving up a lone hit, one walk, and striking out four batters. As for Scranton, Perricone started the game on the mound and threw an inning plus, before being relieved by Shimonis, as she threw a gritty four innings to wrap up the ball game.

Now head coach Mar Tsakonas and her Scranton Lions will look to capture their first win of the season when they host a doubleheader against conference rival Penn State Fayette on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 1pm. Meanwhile, head coach Mike Marsili and his Penn State New Kensington squad will look to continue their winning ways when they go on the road to take on league foe Penn State Hazleton in a doubleheader that kicks-off at 12 noon on Saturday.