TARENTUM, Pa. – Penn State New Kensington softball went one and one against Penn State Du Bois Saturday in its first games of the season. Du Bois took the first victory of the day, 4-2, while the second matchup was in New Kensington's favor, 9-7.
Game 1
Action was slow until inning three when Du Bois scored its first of four runs. By the fifth inning, the visiting team had already gained a 4-0 lead on New Kensington.
It wasn't until the bottom of the final inning that New Kensington scored two runs. Andrea Eiler (Eau Claire, Pa./Moniteau) was up to bat first for New Kensington and walked. Calle Zmenkowski (Cheswick, Pa./Fox Chapel) singled advancing Eiler to second. Both players ran in a score off a Natalie Heltebran (Irwin, Pa./Hempfield) double to center field.
New Kensington then faced three quick outs leaving Du Bois with the 4-2 win.
Heltebran went 2-for-3.
Game 2
Du Bois ran in an early score after being up against two outs in the first inning, and New Kensington quickly answered back with a run of its own by Zmenkowski.
In the bottom of the second, New Kensington took control of the game, running in five. Courtney Biswick (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) singled to center field and soon moved to second from an Abby Kane (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) single. Both players advanced on a passed ball. Auveonna Perkins (Arnold, Pa./Valley) was walked leaving all bases full. Kane and Biswick made it home courtesy of Zmenkowski singling. Perkins and Zmenkowski were next to cross home plate when Heltebran doubled to left field. New Kensington saw another double, this time by Lauren Torgent (Tarentum, Pa./Highlands), which allowed Heltebran to score.
New Kensington was up 6-1 heading into the third. Du Bois managed to run in two during this inning.
Molly Collins (Verona, Pa./ Riverview) ran in New Kensington's next score in the bottom of the fourth, and Kane's single got the RBI. This moved the score to 7-3, but Du Bois saw four runs in the fifth, bringing the score to a 7-7 tie.
During the bottom of the sixth, New Kensington broke the tie with two more runs. Torgent made her way around the bases and was able to steal home. Collins scored the second run on an error by Du Bois' catcher.
New Kensington was quick to hand Du Bois three outs in the last inning and secured its 9-7 win in the top of the seventh.
Zmenkowski, Heltebran, and Torgent had two RBI a piece. Heltebran and Torgent also doubled. Kane was 3-for-4 in hitting.
New Kensington's next competitions take place on Wednesday, March 24 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. against Penn State Mont Alto.
Written by Janet Surma
