Fall Short in Non Conference Action

Penn State New Kensington Falls in Close Battle Against Pitt-Greensburg

GREENSBURG, Pa. - In a thrilling non-conference matchup, Penn State New Kensington came up just short against Pitt-Greensburg, falling 6-5 in a tightly contested game. The contest featured back-and-forth action, clutch hitting, and late-inning drama before Pitt-Greensburg secured the walk-off victory in the bottom of the ninth.

Game Recap:

Penn State New Kensington got off to a promising start, striking first in the opening frame when Jobeth Diaz Osorio lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, bringing Miguel Garcia home for an early 1-0 lead. The visitors extended their advantage in the third when an error by Pitt-Greensburg's pitcher allowed Nat Greenslet to cross the plate, making it 2-0.

Pitt-Greensburg responded in the fourth inning as Daniel Santos delivered a two-run homer, bringing in Zach Tyson to tie the game at 2-2. Both teams remained locked in a tense battle until the seventh inning, when Adrian Cruz tripled down the right-field line, scoring Bryan Calderon to push New Kensington ahead 3-2.

The momentum swung dramatically in the eighth inning as Pitt-Greensburg's Christian Solinski launched a two-run homer to left field, giving the home team a 4-3 lead. Daniel Santos followed with his second home run of the day, a solo shot that extended the lead to 5-3.

Penn State New Kensington refused to go down without a fight. In the ninth, Jobeth Diaz Osorio's clutch RBI single brought home Greenslet, trimming the deficit to 5-4. Moments later, Adrian Cruz came through once again with a double to right-center, driving in Sean Walker to even the score at 5-5.

However, Pitt-Greensburg had the final word. In the bottom of the ninth, T. Smith delivered a game-winning single down the left-field line, plating H. Gideons to seal a 6-5 victory for the home team.

Penn State New Kensington Individual Highlights:

• Adrian Cruz (C): 2-for-4, 1 triple, 1 double, 2 RBIs

• Jobeth Diaz Osorio (DH): 2-for-4, 2 RBIs

• Miguel Garcia (CF): 2-for-5, 1 run scored

• Bryan Calderon (SS): 2-for-4, 1 double, 1 run scored, 1 stolen base

• Nat Greenslet (2B): 2-for-4, 2 runs scored

Pitching Summary:

Penn State New Kensington utilized seven pitchers throughout the contest. Zander Allen, Nathan Mecke, and AJ Demharter each provided scoreless innings early on. Cole Lambdin and Ken Boyle combined to keep the game close, while Terry Johnson logged two innings, surrendering three runs (one earned). Nat Greenslet (0-2) took the loss, giving up the final run in the ninth inning.

Final Thoughts:

Despite the loss, Penn State New Kensington showcased resilience and offensive production, tallying 12 hits, including three extra-base hits. The team will look to regroup as they prepare for their upcoming conference series.

Penn State New Kensington Stats:

• Batting: 12 hits, 5 runs, 4 RBIs

• Pitching: 8.1 IP, 12 hits, 6 runs (4 earned), 3 strikeouts

• Fielding: 2 caught stealing, 1 wild pitch

Penn State New Kensington will return to action soon, eager to bounce back from this hard-fought contest.