Lady Lions Split Doubleheader on Day One of PSUAC Tournament

By Athletic Department Staff Writer

Williamsport, PA - The # one seed Penn State Beaver Lady Lions split a doubleheader on day one of the PSUAC double elimination tournament. Their host, the # 4 seed Penn College Wildcats, defeated Beaver, 6-4 in eight innings, but Beaver went on to defeat Penn State Schuylkill, 8-0.

In game one, Beaver got on the board first. Junior Jen Hain (Northgate High School, Pittsburgh, PA) led off the inning with a bunt hit and senior Melissa Swoager (South Side High School, Hookstown, PA) moved Hain over on a sac bunt. Freshman Lindsey Scialdone (Lincoln High School, Ellwood City, PA) sac bunted Hain home to build a 1-0 lead. Beaver pushed the lead to 2-0 in the third when Hain tripled and then scored on a pass ball. Penn College came back with one in the fourth and then took the lead with three in the sixth.  

Beaver scored one in the bottom of the sixth with a two-out single by freshman Jessica Campbell (Beaver Falls High School, Beaver Falls, PA). Beaver tied it with two outs in the seventh on a double by sophomore Alonna Verrico (Rochester High School, Rochester, PA). The Wildcats scored two on a two-out, 1-2 pitch, double and took the win in eight innings.

Hain had three hits in the game and sophomore Kayla Chambers (South Side High School, Hookstown, PA) pitched eight innings, gave up eight hits, and struck out six.

In game two, Beaver held Schuylkill scoreless in the first and Hain started off in the bottom of the first with an inside-the-park homerun. Swoager followed with a double and later scored on freshman Katie Landis' (Rochester High School, Rochester, PA) ground out. Beaver led 2-0 after one inning. In the third inning, Hain led off with a single, moved to second on a sac bunt by Swoager, and scored on a single by Scialdone to bring the lead to 3-0. Beaver sealed the deal in the sixth, scoring five times and invoking the mercy rule, forcing a win of 8-0.

Hain and Swoager led the game with three hits each, Scialdone added two hits, and Swoager pitched a six-inning shut-out, giving up four hits, one walk, and striking out five.  

The win advanced Beaver to the semifinals to be held Thursday, April 30 at noon at Penn State Hazleton. If Beaver wins, they'll advance advance to the championship against Penn College at 2 p.m.