Fayette Takes Series with New Kensington

TARENTUM, Pa. - New Kensington baseball fell to Penn State Fayette Saturday afternoon to end their series 0-3.

Penn State Fayette took advantage of a big opening inning, putting up four runs in the first followed by two more in the second. New Kensington's offense came back to produce five runs in the second. Fayette ran across once in the fourth to take the 7-5 lead.

New Kensington contributed two runs in the fifth to tie the game at seven. Penn State Fayette brought in the go-ahead run to finish with the close 8-7 win.

In game two, Fayette scored one run in the first followed by two in the second. New Kensington responded with two runs in the second before Fayette would earn one more in the third. New Kensington also put up two more runs in the third. Penn State Fayette scored two runs in the fourth to New Kensington's one.

Fayette extended their lead, scoring six runs in the fifth. New Kensington would score the final two runs of the game to fall to Penn State Fayette 12-7. 

Game 1

Nick Osborne (Hermitage, Pa. / Hickory) got the start for New Kensington, throwing five innings and allowing eight runs on eight hits. He walked four batters, striking out seven. Mario Gomez (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J. / Hasbrouck Heights) finished the game for New Kensington throwing two innings while walking one and striking out one.

Penn State Fayette scored first when they reached first on an error by left field for the 2 RBI. They would drive in two more runs in the top of the first to take the 4-0 lead. Fayette produced two more runs in the second.

New Kensington responded on a Mario Gomez double down the right-field line to drive in Jared Busche (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Gateway)  and Jake Wilson (Fort Myers, Fla. / Fort Myers). Zack Woolheater (Munhall, Pa. / Steel Valley) would fly out to left field for James Auberzinsky (Munhall, Pa. / Steel Valley) to come home.

New Kensington brought the game within one point when Tallon Auth (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Plum) doubled to right-center for the 2 RBI, bringing in Dale Egenlauf (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Brashear) and Gomez. Fayette reached first on an error in the top of the fourth for the RBI.

In the bottom of the fifth, Nick Osborne blasted a triple to right field to drive in Woolheater. Reise Matson (Kittanning, Pa. / Armstrong) brought in the tying run on a single to center field. A Fayette sacrifice fly to right field would bring the go-ahead run home for Penn State Fayette to finish with the 8-7 win.

Game 2

Mario Gomez started on the mound for New Kensington in game two. He threw 3.2 innings giving up six runs on eight hits. Gomez walked two batters, striking out five. He was replaced by Reise Matson who threw 1.1 innings allowing six runs on six hits, walking one.

James Auberzinsky finished the game for New Kensington, throwing two innings giving up one hit while walking two, striking out one. Penn State Fayette singled to left field for the opening RBI of the game. They followed up with a double 2 RBI to right field.

AJ Collins (Penn Hills, Pa. / Penn Hills) singled to right center, advancing Jared Busche to second and Eric Sonntag (Philadelphia, Pa. / Hatboro-Horsham) to third while driving in Max Oliveri (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Penn Hills). Zack Woolheater singled an RBI to advance runners into scoring position and bring Sonntag home.

Fayette came back in the top of the third to put the game at 4-2. Oliveri singled to left field for Tallon Auth to score before Sonntag doubled down the left-field line for Jake Wilson to earn the tying run. Penn State Fayette homered in the top of the fourth for the go-ahead run.

Fayette began to pull away after earning the next run on a sacrifice fly. Sonntag put New Kensington back into the game with a single to center field to drive in Nick Osborne. Penn State Fayette would score four more runs in the top of the fifth to take the 12-5 lead.

Sonntag managed a sacrifice fly to center field to advance Oliveri to third and bring Wilson across the plate. Braden Tristani (Sarver, Pa. / Knoch) singled to left field for Oliveri to score the final run of the game. Penn State Fayette finished the day with the 12-7 win. The men are now 4-23 on the season.

"Just got to put the ball in play and work right center more," said Jared Busche. "Just know the situation and know what we have to do at the plate and have a good approach."

New Kensington will face off against Penn State Beaver at home on Friday to begin another three-game series. First pitch is at 3 p.m.

Written by Matt Heavner, PSNK Athletics Communications Intern