Lady Lions take doubleheader from Grove City

By Alonna Verrico
Student Staff Writer, Athletic Department

On Tuesday, March 17 the Penn State Beaver Lady Lions traveled to defeat the Grove City Wolverines in a non-conference doubleheader, 2-1 and 3-2.

In game one, Grove City's Heidi Lohr led off with a walk for the Wolverines, then moved to second on a sac bunt, and then to third on a ground out, eventually scoring on a passed ball. 

However, the next six innings were scoreless on both sides. In the top of the seventh, Beaver came on with a two-out rally and senior Melissa Swoager (South Side High School, South Side, PA) hit a double deep over the Wolverines left fielder. Swoager set herself up in scoring position after stealing third base. Junior Jen Hain (Northgate High School, Pittsburgh, PA) brought Swoager home to tie the game on a single up the middle. 

With the game tied, the international tie breaker was put into effect. After a scoreless eighth inning, Beaver scored in the ninth when sophomore Kayla Chambers (South Side High School, South Side, PA) stole third base and broke the tie after stealing home on a wild pitch. Beaver held Grove City in the bottom of the ninth to take the win in extra innings from the Wolverines. Chambers, who finished the game with seven strikeouts, only gave up two hits and had one earned run in pitching nine innings. 

In the second game, Beaver scored three runs in the first inning. Hain started the game off with a single and scored on a triple from Swoager. In the top of the fourth, Beaver scored again from a double by Chambers who then stole third and home on a wild pitch. Grove City attempted a comeback with two runs in the bottom of the fourth, the umpires called the game after the fifth due to darkness. Swoager pitched four innings, gave up five hits, and struck out three on her way to her second win of the season.

Now at 4-6 overall, the Lady Lions will host the Southern Virginia University Knights in a doubleheader on Friday, March 20 at 3 p.m.