The Penn State New Kensington Softball team traveled east this weekend for games against Penn State Worthington Scranton and Penn State Hazleton.
The first two games of the road trip were against PS Worthington Scranton. PSNK won both games in convincing fashion. They won the first game 11-0 in 5 innings and the second by a score of 11-4. Junior Tarra Oravec led the way in both games for PSNK.
In the first game Oravec pitched 5 innings of scoreless softball to pick up her second shutout of the season. Oravec gave up only 2 hits while registering 9 strikeouts. She also contributed from the plate going 3 for 4 with 3 RBI, 2 runs scored and a triple. Also going 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored for PSNK was sophomore shortstop, Bridget Fisher. The PSNK offense exploded for 14 hits by eight different Lady Lions. Also 7 different Lady Lions contributed with an RBI.
In the scored game against PS Worthington Scranton, PSNK would continue their dominance. PSNK again scored 11 runs, winning by a score of 11-4. In the top of the first inning PSNK jumped out to an early 4-0 lead from RBI singles by, Jenna Swank, Sarah Kutchko and Leigh Hastings. Freshman Sabrina Johns would also contribute an RBI on a fielder's choice. In the pitchers circle for the Lady Lions in game two was Junior Jenna Swank. Swank would surrender 4 earned runs over 7 innings of work, while striking out 6. PSNK continued their hitting ways in game two, collecting 17 hits. Each player in the lineup contributed with at least one hit for the Lady Lions. Leading the way again for the Lady Lions was Tarra Oravec, who went 4 for 4 with 2 Homeruns and 3 RBI. Sabrina Johns and Katie Colbert also each added 3 hits in 5 at bats for the Lady Lions.
In the two victories verse PS Worthington Scranton, PSNK scored 22 runs on 31 hits while giving up only 4 runs. Oravec went a combined 7 for 8 with 6 RBI, 4 runs scored and 2 Homeruns. Junior Sarah Kutchko also added 4 hits in 7 at bats while picking up 2 RBI in the two games.
On Monday PSNK traveled 45 minutes down Route I-81 to face Penn State Hazelton. PSNK would split the two game series, winning the first game 9-7 in 9 innings and being defeated in the second 7-4.
Starting Pitcher Tarra Oravec led the way for PSNK once again. Oravec pitched all 9 innings giving up 7 runs, only 2 of which were earned. PSNK would struggle defensively committing 4 errors but still managing to pull out the victory. Going into the top of the 6th inning PSNK would find themselves trailing 5-1. The Lady Lions finally find their bats. PSNK would score 4 runs in the top of the 6th inning to eventually force extra innings. In the top of the 8th inning PSNK would score the go ahead run, making the score 6-5. PS Hazleton would answer in the bottom half of the inning tying the score at 6. PSNK would add 3 more runs in the top of the 9th to put the Lady Lions up 9-6. PS Hazleton would add one run in the bottom of the 9th but it wasn't enough. PSNK would win the game by a score of 9-7 in 9 innings. Oravec continued her dominance at the plate, hitting another homerun and adding 6 RBI on 3 hits in 4 at bats.
PSNK would lose the second game verse PS Hazleton by a score of 7-4. The game was tied 2-2 going into the bottom of the 5th inning. PS Hazleton would score 4 runs that inning making the score now 6-2. PSNK would add two more runs in the top of the 6th inning but wasn't enough as PS Hazelton would add another in the bottom of the inning. PS Hazleton would go on to win by the score of 7-4 splitting the series with PSNK.
PSNK currently sits in second place of the PSUAC with a conference record of 8-2. The loss in the second game verse PS Hazleton snapped PSNK's seven game winning streak. PSNK is back in action Thursday when they travel to Fayette to face Penn State Fayette for two games.
