MONACA, Pa. – Penn State New Kensington softball fell to Penn State Beaver in two close game, 3-0 and 3-2.

During the first game, there were no points scored in the first inning for either teams. The second inning started looking up for New Kensington as soon as Lauren Torgent (Brackenridge, Pa.) singled. The hits kept coming when both Brittney Wolford (Lower Burrell, Pa.) and Sami Grazioli (East Brady, Pa.) bunted. All three players were left on base. Beaver was then up to bat and scored one.

The score remained 0-1, Beaver, until the bottom of the fourth when Beaver scored another run. At the top of the fifth, New Kensington had one hit by Teresa DeSimone (Spring Church, Pa) who singled, but she was left on base at the end of the inning.

Heading into the sixth, New Kensington had two hits, but no runs. Beaver, however, scored one more.

In a last effort to get a few runs, New Kensington was only able to get one hit in the last inning.

Abigail Michelucci (Canonsburg, Pa.) pitched six innings and struck out three.

With few hits from either team in the second game, the score was stuck at 0-0 until the bottom of the fifth when Beaver scored the first run of the game. They scored again in the bottom of the sixth, putting them up 3-0 moving into the last inning.

Trying to catch Beaver's lead, DeSimone singled. Michelucci hit a homerun, bringing in both herself and DeSimone, to make the score 3-2. However, Beaver managed to get the last outs before more damage could be done.

Michelucci homered, had two RBIs, and Erika Finn (Upper Burrell, Pa.) doubled.

New Kensington and Beaver will face off again on Sat., March 6 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Written by Janet Surma