LEMONT FURNACE, Pa. – New Kensington's softball team faced a loss, 3-2, and a victory, 5-1, Tuesday as it went head-to-head with Penn State Fayette. New Kensington is now 1-1 in conference play and 2-2 overall.

Game 1

With two outs in the bottom of the first inning, Fayette put up the first run of the game. The score remained 1-0 until the seventh inning.

Attempting to tie or surpass Fayette, Calle Zmenkowski (Cheswick, Pa./Fox Chapel) batted first for New Kensington and doubled. Zmenkowski scored on a Lauren Torgent (Tarentum, Pa./Highlands) triple. Torgent was able to score another run for New Kensington off a single courtesy of Natalie Heltebran (Irwin, Pa./Hempfield).

The teams were tied 2-2 with the bottom of the seventh left to play, but Fayette was able to score another run securing the win, 3-2.  

Torgent hit 3-of-4 including her RBI triple.

Game 2

New Kensington took off in the first inning and boosted itself to a 3-0 lead. Torgent and Riplee Burkhart (Verona, Pa./Penn Hills) singled back-to-back and both managed to score on a Heltebran ground out. Molly Collins (Verona, Pa./Riverview) kept New Kensington moving forward with a double. She was able to advance to third off a Tori Young (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler Area) single and made it home on single by Abby Kane (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional).

In the top of the third, New Kensington added two runs to make the score 5-0. Burkhart and Heltebran both singled to start the inning. Burkhart then scored of a single from Collins, and Heltebran came home on an RBI single from Kane.

Fayette scored its only run in the sixth inning. With one inning left to play, neither team scored which left New Kensington victorious, 5-1.

Burkhart and Collins went 3-for-3 and 4-for-4 respectively, while Kane went 3-for-4. Collins and Kane each had two RBI.

New Kensington has home field advantage for its next two games on Thursday, Apr. 1 against Penn State Greater Allegheny. The games will begin at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Written by Janet Surma