Baseball Breaks Streak, Takes Series Over Beaver

MONACA, Pa. - New Kensington baseball broke their streak Saturday afternoon, taking both games of a doubleheader with Penn State Beaver. The men won the series 2-1. 

New Kensington struck first with one run. Beaver was not far behind putting up three runs in the first. The game stayed close as New Kensington scored again in the second. The men produced three runs in the fourth to take the two-point lead. New Kensington scored twice in the fifth followed by a big sixth inning running across seven times. The final inning went scoreless for Penn State New Kensington baseball to break their streak and earn the 14-4 win. 

For game two, both teams failed to score through the first three innings. Penn State New Kensington stayed consistent, scoring four runs in the fourth and four runs in the fifth. They put up two more runs in the sixth to take the 10-0 lead. The men managed to hold Penn State Beaver to no runs to finish with their second win of the day, 10-0. New Kensington took the series, 2-1. 

Game 1

Jake Wilson (Fort Myers, Fla. / Fort Myers) started on the mound for New Kensington throwing six innings and letting up four runs on eight hits. Wilson walked three batters, striking out three. He is now 2-4 on the season. 

Reise Matson (Kittanning, Pa. / Armstrong) played a key role in New Kensington's early scoring, grounding out to shortstop to drive in Zack Woolheater (Munhall, Pa. / Steel Valley). Penn State Beaver doubled to advance runners into scoring position while bringing in their first run. 

They took the lead off of a single that advanced a runner to third while scoring the go-ahead run. Penn State Beaver reached on a fielder's choice to take the 3-1 lead. Jared Busche (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Gateway) doubled an RBI for Eric Sonntag (Philadelphia, Pa. / Hatboro-Horsham) to score. 

Nick Osborne (Hermitage, Pa. / Hickory) reached on a fielder's choice. Woolheater advanced to second on an error by second base to put Mario Gomez (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J. / Hasbrouck Heights) in scoring position at third and score Dale Egenlauf (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Brashear). 

Matson came through again for a single 2 RBI driving in Woolheater and Gomez. New Kensington led 5-3 going into the bottom of the frame. Woolheater singled an RBI in the top of the fifth to put Gomez in position and drive in Egenlauf. 

Osborne singled another RBI to bring Gomez across the plate. Sonntag would then single an RBI in the top of the sixth to bring in Tallon Auth (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Plum). Busche doubled a 2 RBI for Max Oliveri (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Penn Hills) to extend the New Kensington lead by seven runs. 

The men took control into the final innings as AJ Collins (Penn Hills, Pa. / Penn Hills) reached first on an error by the catcher, advancing to second and allowing Busche to score. Gomez reached first on an error by shortstop for the RBI that drove in Collins. 

Matson continued his great day of batting, doubling for a 2 RBI that would bring in Osborne and Gomez. New Kensington held a sturdy 14-3 lead going into the final inning. Penn State Beaver reached first on an error by shortstop to drive in their fourth run of the game on a passed ball. 

New Kensington held on to their lead to earn a great 14-4 win. 

Game 2

Mario Gomez got the start for New Kensington in game two, throwing all six innings. Gomez allowed three hits, while holding Beaver to no runs. He struck out two. The scoring did not begin until the top of the fourth when Eric Sonntag reached on a fielder's choice for the RBI that brought in Tallon Auth. 

New Kensington kept up the scoring on a Jake Wilson single 2 RBI for Jared Busche and Sonntag to score. Wilson would then steal second allowing Dale Egenlauf to score on the error, the men leading by four. Sonntag singled an RBI to advance Max Oliveri to third while scoring Reise Matson. 

New Kensington earned their sixth run of the game off of a Busche sacrifice fly that brought Oliveri home. 

Zack Woolheater contributed a single 2 RBI for Egenlauf and Sonntag to score. New Kensington led 8-0 going into the sixth. The men continued to pull away in the top of the sixth when Oliveri advanced to third for Matson to score on a passed ball. Oliveri would go on to score on a passed ball putting Penn State Beaver at a 10-run deficit and finish on top 10-0.

"I think our defense has been phenomenal," said Tallon Auth. "Pitching has been really great. It's just like I said, the timely hits."

The men will take on Westmoreland County Community College in their final game of the season on Monday. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.

Written by Matt Heavner, PSNK Athletics Communications Intern