NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. – Penn State New Kensington took on two games against Penn State DuBois this afternoon. DuBois took both wins, 15-0 and 15-2.

DuBois began the first game with 4 runs in the top of the first. New Kensington was only able to get one hit by Reise Matson (Kittanning, Pa./ Armstrong) who singled to right center. In the top of the second, DuBois scored four again, but New Kensington got two hits this time. Christopher Rendulic (Port Vue, Pa./ South Allegheny) singled to center field and Noah Oddis (Lower Burrell, Pa./ Burrell) singled to left field. At the bottom of the second, the score was 8-0 in favor of DuBois.

With two outs, DuBois was still able to get themselves two runs in the third inning. In response, Tyler Elliot (Jeannette, Pa./ Jeannette) singled to center field and Matson singled to left field in an effort to catch DuBois' lead. They were both left on base after a third out by the Lions. Heading into the fourth, DuBois got themselves two runs off of two hits and pushed the score to 12-0.

DuBois ended the game with three runs.

For New Kensington, Justin Lindeman (Murrysville, Pa./ Franklin Regional) pitched for three innings and struck out one.

In the second game, New Kensington started bringing in runs. The first inning was slow for both teams and no runs were scored. DuBois picked it up in the second by scoring two, and by the bottom of the third, New Kensington brought in their first run. Vinny Ribar (Apollo, Pa./ Kiski Area) was first up to bat for the Lions and singled to left field. He then advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third when Elliot grounded out to second base. Matson flied out to center field, and Ribar scored. DuBois was ahead 3-1.

In the bottom of the fifth, Nicholas Baker (Monessen, Pa./ Monessen) was walked. He advanced to second with a single to left field from Ribar. Paul Kozuch (Ford City, Pa./ Armstrong) then pinch ran for baker. Kozuch scored off of a single to shortstop from Matson. New Kensington was down 5-2 heading into the top of the sixth inning.

DuBois put up one run in the sixth, but when the last inning came, they ran in nine. With DuBois ahead by 13, New Kensington had a lot of catching up to do, but they couldn't get any hits to put them on base.

Matson had two RBIs. Rendulic pitched for five innings and had five strikeouts.

New Kensington will play DuBois again tomorrow, March 24 at 1 p.m.

Written by Janet Surma