New Kensington, PA- Penn State New Kensington (PSNK) softball team faced Penn State Beaver for a PSUAC doubleheader Saturday. PSNK won both games, the second in dramatic fashion.

In the first game, PSNK got out to an early 3-0 lead. Shortstop Bridget Fisher started things off with a leadoff single.  With one out and Fisher at second, Catcher Rachel Lojas hit an RBI double to score Fisher for the first run of the game. Next up for PSNK was Pitcher Tarra Oravec. Oravec hit a 2 run homerun to left centerfield to give PSNK a 3-0 lead after one inning.  PSNK added one more run in the bottom of the 6^th inning to lead Beaver 4-0. The story of the game was Oravec. She not only produced at the plate going 2 for 3 with a 2 run homerun but on the rubber as well. Oravec pitched 7 scoreless innings to register her first win of the season. During her 7 innings of work she gave up no runs on 2 hits, while walking only 1 and striking out 5. PSNK would win by a final of 4-0.

The second game was a hard fought game that went back and forth. Beaver got out to the quick start this time around. Beaver shortstop started the game off with a leadoff triple. She would score on a passed ball the next at bat. Down 1-0 going into the bottom of the 1^st inning, PSNK would answer with one run of their own. Catcher Rachel Lojas would hit a two out triple to put herself in scoring position. Oravec would continue her dominance at the plate with an RBI single to tie the game up at 1. Beaver added another run in the top of the 2^nd to go up 2-1. PSNK would tie the game up at 2 in the bottom of the 3^rd when Oravec hit an RBI double to score Lojas. Beaver quickly regained the lead in the top of the 4^th inning scoring one run. Facing a 3-2 deficit to the start the 5^th inning, PSNK made a pitching change. Oravec replaced Starting Pitcher Jenna Swank after 4 strong innings of work. The final line on Swank was 4 IP, 5 H, 0 BB, 2K, 3R (1ER).  Oravec would come in and shut down Beaver's bats the rest of the way.  Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of 6^th, Oravec started the inning off with a leadoff double, her third hit of the game. With Oravec in scoring position, Swank would connect for her second hit of the game, an RBI single to tie the score 3-3. After no runs in the 7^th inning by each team, the game was forced to extra innings. By rule each team starts each extra inning with a runner on 2^nd base and no outs. After placing their runner on 2^nd base to start the inning, Beaver was able to advance her to third a ground out to the shortstop. With one out and the go ahead run on third, PSNK shut the door defensively with two straight groundouts to get out of the inning. To start the bottom of the 8^th inning PSNK placed Bridget Fisher on second. A groundout by Centerfielder Jessica George allowed Fisher to advance to third base. With the winning run 60 feet away, Catcher Rachel Lojas stepped up to the plate. Lojas connected on a game winning RBI single to score Fisher. PSNK would win the second game 4-3 in 8 innings.  Oravec picked up the win in relief for her second victory on the day. The final line for Oravec was 4 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 3 K, 0 R.

Oravec and Lojas led the way for PSNK with their strong performances at the plate in both games. Oravec finished both games a combined 5 for 6 with 4 RBI, 2 doubles, a homerun and 2 runs scored. She also added  2 wins while pitching 11 scoreless innings. She added 8 strikeouts while giving up only four hits.  Lojas finished a combined 4 for 7 with 2 RBI, a double, a triple and 4 runs scored.  

Penn State New Kensington improved their record to 4-6 overall and 3-1 in the conference. PSNK is back in action Wednesday, April 10th at 2 and 4 when they host Penn State Greater Allegheny at Wolfpack Park.