Mont Alto Takes Series with New Kensington

MONT ALTO, Pa. - New Kensington baseball dropped their doubleheader with Penn State Mont Alto Sunday afternoon to finish the series 0-3.

In an incredibly strong start, New Kensington produced three runs in the first inning. They kept their lead with a great defensive effort holding Mont Alto to only one run in the first.

The offense put together a tremendous display of batting, adding one more run in the second to put the New Kensington lead at 4-1. The defense was even more resistant through the third and fourth allowing no Mont Alto runs.

Penn State Mont Alto began their comeback in the fifth with one run followed by two more in the sixth. The game remained tied 4-4 until the seventh when Mont Alto managed to squeeze out one final run to take the 5-4 lead and finish the game with the win.

In-game two, Mont Alto held New Kensington to no runs while putting up one run in the first, and four in the fifth. Mont Alto finished the series convincingly with three more runs in the sixth to win the contest 8-0. New Kensington is now 0-9 in conference action.

Game 1

New Kensington used only two pitchers through seven innings of play. Jake Wilson (Fort Myers, Fla. / Fort Myers) got the start, throwing 5.1 innings while giving up four runs on six hits.Wilson walked three and struck out five.

He was replaced by Mario Gomez (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J. / Hasbrouck Heights) who threw 0.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits, walking two, and striking out one.

The men came out of the gate with an explosive first inning of batting. The scoring began when Reise Matson (Kittanning, Pa. / Armstrong) reached first on an error by shortstop allowing Zack Woolheater (Munhall, Pa. / Steel Valley) to score. Mont Alto walked in the next run with Luis Osorio (Bethlehem, Pa. / Freedom) advancing to first to drive in Matson.

Mont Alto's mistakes began piling up when Jared Busche (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Gateway) was brought home on a balk, advancing Osorio and Max Oliveri (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Penn Hills) to second and third respectively. New Kensington led 3-0 going into the bottom of the frame.

Penn State Mont Alto produced a sacrifice fly RBI in the bottom of the first to score their first run of the game. Tallon Auth (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Plum) wasted no time blasting his third homer of the season to extend the New Kensington lead to 4-1.

Mont Alto slowly crept back on another sacrifice fly, followed by a walk. A wild pitch would give them the tying run going into the final frame. A Mont Alto single brought in the go-ahead run for Mont Alto to finish game one with the hard-fought 5-4 win.

Game 2

Gomez started the second game for New Kensington, throwing four innings while letting up one run on two hits, striking out two. Tim Morris (Plum, Pa. / Plum) took over allowing four runs on two hits, walking one.

He was replaced by Alex VanMeter (Fort Myers, Fla. / Dunbar) who threw one inning and gave up one hit, walking two. Anthony Blackgrove (Spring Church, Pa. / Apollo-Ridge) finished the game throwing one inning, allowing three runs on one hit, walking three.

Mont Alto singled to left field in the opening frame to kick off the scoring. They maintained their pace through the entire game, doubling a 2 RBI to right-center in the bottom of the fifth to take the 3-0 lead.

Mont Alto put up three more points through the remainder of the game before an error by first base brought the final two runs across the plate. Penn State Mont Alto finished with an 8-0 win and swept all three games of the series.

"Just doing the little things, most importantly competing," said Tallon Auth. "Mont Alto is a good team. We have the talent, it's just about doing the little things and minimizing the mistakes."

New Kensington will be back in action on Friday and Saturday to face off against Penn State Fayette. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.

Written by Matt Heavner, PSNK Athletics Communications Intern