New Kensington plays tight matchups with Fayette

LEMONT FURNACE, Pa. – New Kensington baseball and Penn State Fayette went against each other on Saturday for a double header. Fayette took game one, 5-2, and broke away in the final inning of game two to get the 20-18 victory. These losses drop New Kensington to 0-16 in the conference and 0-18 overall.

Game 1

Tallon Auth (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) ran home the first score of the game during the top of the third. In the bottom of the inning, Fayette took control with two runs and was up, 2-1.

Scoring didn't resume until the sixth inning, and Fayette increased its lead to 5-1.

With an inning left to play, Branden Stipetich (Blawnox, Pa./Fox Chapel) singled and was able to head to second on a pitcher's error. Jared Busche (Pittsburgh, Pa./Gateway) and Alex VanMeter (Fort Myers, Fla./Dunbar) joined Stipetich on base soon after. With bases loaded, Auth walked which sent Stipetich home. New Kensington was unable to catch Fayette and fell, 5-2.

Reise Matson (Kittanning, Pa./Armstrong) went 2-for-2 including a double. Zachary Kerr (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell) also doubled, and he hit 2-of-3.

Game 2

Heading into the top of the third, New Kensington was already faced with an 8-0 disadvantage. However, it used the inning to begin its scoring.

Auth reached first on a fielder's choice and scored off a Matson double. Jordan Witcher (District Heights, Md./Largo) pinch ran for Matson and scored thanks to a VanMeter single. After three outs, Fayette was up to bat and ran in six. At the bottom of the inning, Fayette was in charge 14-2.

During the fourth, New Kensington put up two more runs. Kerr was able to score after beginning his run with a single, and Busche ran home next after a double got him on base. Once again, Fayette answered with another run and was still leading, 15-4.

A game changing fifth inning almost allowed New Kensington to surpass Fayette. Matson got to first on an error and moved forward on a Stipetich single. Kerr singled right after and advanced to second while Matson scored. Stipetch was next to cross home when Busche reached base on a fielder's choice, and Kerr continued to round the bases. A ground out led to Kerr scoring. Off a Tim Morris (Plum, Pa./Plum) double, Busche ran home, and soon after, an Auth single sent Morris home as well. New Kensington was closing in on Fayette, 15-9. AJ Collins (Penn Hills, Pa./Penn Hills) and VanMeter soon got on base while Auth was on third. Auth, along with Collins, both scored off a Matson single. Witcher came in to pinch run for VanMeter and scored courtesy of Stipetich singling. Kerr was up to bat for the second time during the inning and doubled which sent Matson and Sitpetich home. Auth made it on base once again and scored off a Matson double. Witcher was in to pinch run for Matson, and a single by VanMeter allowed him to score. At the end of the fifth, New Kensington was only down by one, 15-14.

New Kensington was able to pass up Fayette in the following inning. Matson doubled and earned three RBI: Collins, Auth, and Mario Gomez (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J./Hasbrouck Heights). Closing in on the final inning, New Kensington was leading, 17-15.

After singling, Busche scored on a Morris single. Fayette had the bottom of the seventh to take back the game, and the team ran in five to finish up the tight game, 20-18.

Matson led the game with six RBI. He also went 3-for-5 while doubling twice. Kerr went 4-for-5, had three RBI, and a double. Morris also added up three RBI and hit a double.

New Kensington will play one matchup against Penn State Greater Allegheny on Tuesday, April 20. First pitch is at 4 p.m.

Written by Janet Surma