New Kensington Drops One at Fayette

LEMONT FURNACE, Pa. - New Kensington baseball fell to Penn State Fayette after nine innings of play Friday afternoon in the first of a three-game series.

Penn State New Kensington opened up the scoring, running across twice in the first. New Kensington maintained another big inning in the second with three more runs. The men allowed Penn State Fayette one run in the second to put the score at 5-1.

Fayette scored one run in the third and fourth followed by a pair of runs in the sixth and seventh. They would put up three more runs in the eighth to finish with the four-run advantage. Fayette took the first game 10-6.

Jake Wilson (Fort Myers, Fla. / Fort Myers) started on the mound for New Kensington, throwing four innings and letting up three runs on two hits, including one home run. Wilson walked six batters, striking out five. AJ Collins (Penn Hills, Pa. / Penn Hills) entered the game and threw two innings allowing two runs on three hits, including one home run. He walked one while striking out one.

He was replaced by Tim Morris (Plum, Pa. / Plum) who threw one inning, giving up one run on two hits, including one home run. Alex VanMeter (Fort Myers, Fla. / Dunbar) finished the game for New Kensington, throwing one inning and allowing three runs on three hits, including one home run.

Jared Busche (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Gateway) singled to second base to advance all runners and drive in Zack Woolheater (Munhall, Pa. / Steel Valley). VanMeter walked for the RBI to bring in Reise Matson (Kittanning, Pa. / Armstrong) while advancing runners to second and third. New Kensington did not capitalize any further but finished the inning leading 2-0. Matson singled to second base in the top of the second to drive in Woolheater.

Tallon Auth (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Plum) reached first on an error by third base, advancing to third to drive in Matson. Max Oliveri (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Penn Hills) then singled to third base for Auth to score and New Kensington to lead 5-0 at the end of the inning.

Penn State Fayette did not respond until the bottom of the second when they managed to reach first on an error by second base. Fayette would then homer in the bottom of the third to bring the game within three runs.

In the top of the fourth, Oliveri doubled to third base to bring Auth across the plate again. Trailing 6-2, Penn State Fayette singled an RBI to shortstop followed by a second homer that brought them within two runs of the lead.

Another Fayette homer would give them the go-ahead runs before one more homer would extend their lead to 8-6. A sacrifice fly would drive in the ninth run. New Kensington was unable to score late in the game. Finally, an error by third base drove in the final run for Penn State Fayette to finish with the 10-6 victory. New Kensington dropped to 4-21 on the year.

"Basically every aspect of our game," said Nick Osborne (Hermitage, Pa. / Hickory). "Pitching, keeping guys off the base, not walking guys. Hitting, putting the ball in play, timely hits when we got guys in running position. Just not making errors."

New Kensington will conclude the series tomorrow with a doubleheader at home. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.

Written by Matt Heavner, PSNK Athletics Communications Intern