NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. - New Kensington softball dropped both games of their doubleheader against Penn State Schuylkill Friday afternoon to fall to 4-8 on the season.
In game one, Penn State Schuylkill managed one run in the first. Their offense produced three more runs in the second to extend the lead to 4-0. New Kensington was unable to score a run in response.
The third inning went scoreless on both sides. Skuykill's biggest inning came in the fifth when they ran across six times. Penn State Schuylkill held on to the lead to finish with the 10-0 win. New Kensington brought the second game much closer. After Schuylkill scored one run, the women's bats came alive to earn three runs in the first.
New Kensington held on to a tight lead before allowing Schuylkill two more runs in the second to tie the game at three. The next four innings were scoreless until Schuylkill earned the go-ahead run in the seventh to finish the game with the win, 4-3.
Game 1
Marissa Bruns (Gibsonburg, Ohio / Gibsonburg) got the start for New Kensington, throwing three innings and letting up seven runs on five hits. The freshman walked two, striking out one. Andrea Eiler (Eau Claire, Pa. / Moniteau) entered the game and threw two innings giving up three runs on three hits, striking out one.
Penn State Schuylkill scored first on a double to left field before doubling a 3 RBI to left-center in the top of the second to take the 4-0 lead. Schuylkill earned their fifth run in the top of the fourth off of a single to left field.
They would go on to put up another pair of runs with a 2 RBI single. Schuylkill reached first on an error by third base for the 8-0 lead. New Kensington contributed one hit for the game. Penn State Schuylkill doubled to right-center with another 2 RBI to drive in the final runs of the game. They finished with the win, 10-0.
Game 2
Marissa Bruns started in the circle again for New Kensington, this time throwing 6.2 innings and giving up four runs on nine hits. Bruns walked one, striking out two. She was replaced by Andrea Eiler who threw 0.1 innings. Bruns is now 3-5 on the season.
Penn State Schuylkill scored the first run of the game off of a sacrifice fly. The New Kensington offense came out of the gate strong, first with Illeana Ramirez (Locke, N.Y. / Moravia Central) in scoring position, Marissa Bruns singled to center field for the RBI.
The game remained tied at 1-1. With Bruns now in scoring position, Elliott Ferrent (Punxsutawney, Pa. / Punxsutawney) advanced to third on a passed ball for Bruns to score the go-ahead run. New Kensington capitalized on their base runners with Molly Collins (Verona, Pa. / Riverview) flying out to right field for Ferrent to extend the women's lead to 3-1.
Schuylkill doubled to center field in the top of the second for a 2 RBI that would tie the game 3-3. The contest was at a standstill until the top of the seventh when Penn State Schuylkill scored the final run of the game for the 4-3 win.
"I think everybody's spirits are up," said Courtney Biswick (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Hills). "Because we won another game at Mont Alto so everybody is ready. We know we have it in us now."
New Kensington will remain in conference play as they take on Penn State Brandywine tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
Written by Matt Heavner, PSNK Athletics Communications Intern
