Greater Allegheny prevents two New Kensington wins

BUTLER, Pa. – New Kensington baseball was stopped by Penn State Greater Allegheny Sunday in back-to-back games, 11-2 and 10-1. With the losses, New Kensington gets pushed back to 0-5 in conference play and 0-7 overall.

Game 1

In the top of the first, New Kensington started off the game with a run. Tallon Auth (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) walked and made his way around the bases. Branden Stipetich (Blawnox, Pa./Fox Chapel) grounded and Auth ran home. Heading into the bottom of the inning, New Kensington had its only lead of the game, 1-0.

Greater Allegheny ran in two during the bottom of the first, but New Kensington answered back with one of its own the following inning.

Mario Gomez (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J./Hasbrouck Heights) walked and scored on two errors by Greater Allegheny. The game was tied, 2-2, moving into the bottom of the second, but Greater Allegheny quickly broke the tie and took the lead, 4-2.

Greater Allegheny continued running in its players to advance on New Kensington: three in the third inning, two in the fifth, and two in the sixth. Since New Kensington wasn't able to score anymore after the second inning, Greater Allegheny grabbed the 11-2 win.

Reise Matson (Kittanning, Pa./Armstrong) went 1-for-2, while Stipetich and Max Oliveri (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn Hills) both hit 1-of-3.

Game 2

Greater Allegheny quickly went to work adding up runs for its team, and by the end of the third, it was up 4-0. In the top of the fourth, Gomez scored for New Kensington off a Thomas Santiago Jr. (Jersey City, N.J./M.E.T.S. Charter) single and made the score 4-1.

The fifth inning was game-clinching for Greater Allegheny as it ran in six. With two innings left to play, New Kensington was only able to produce one hit. Greater Allegheny took game two, 10-1.

Santiago went 2-for-2 including a double and RBI.

Baseball will return to play on Wednesday, Apr. 7 as they face off with Penn State Beaver at 3 p.m.

Written by Janet Surma