Lady Lions rally past New Kensington in doubleheader

By: Matylda Zamudio

MONACA, Pa. – The Penn State Beaver women's softball team's winning streak continues after bringing down PSUAC rival New Kensington in both games of Thursday's doubleheader. 

The Lady Lions started the game scoring by earning a run in the second after freshman Michelle Cisco (Churchville/C. Milton Wright) made it home (1-0), which she then followed up by hitting a home-run in the fourth to give Beaver a two-run edge over New Kensington (2-0).

Beaver held New Kensington scoreless and a final run by senior Carley Schroeder (Freedom), who scored on a passed ball handed the Lady Lions a 3-0 victory in game one.

Cisco (Churchville/C. Milton Wright) led the way for Beaver in game one, hitting 3 for 3 and earning 1 RBI. Her current batting average is .414.

Senior Vanessa Jackson (Snohomish) keeps her pitching streak going (W, 11-1) after she pitched a complete game and earn a win for the first game. Jackson allowed eight hits and struck out four of the 29 batters she faced. Her current ERA is 1.37.

Game two went scoreless for the first four inning, but the Lady Lions struck first after junior Lacey Weible (Hookstown/South Side) grounded out to New Kensington's pitcher on a sacrifice bunt to advance Taylor Johnson (San Antonio/ East Central) to home plate (1-0) in the bottom of the fifth. Beaver kept New Kensington scoreless in the top of the sixth and tacked on two runs by Schroeder, who singled-in Senior Brenna Cepull (Monaca/Central Valley) and Taylor Johnson, who then doubled-in Schroeder (3-0). New Kensington looked to make a comeback with two runs on one out in the top of the seventh but then allotted its last two outs after a batter popped out to Jackson, who was on the mound for the last portion on the inning. Jackson then struck out the final batter, and Beaver won the tight-knit game 3-2.

Leading the offense in game two was freshman Taylor Johnson, who went 2 for 3 with 1 RBI followed by Schroeder, who went 1 for 1 with 1 RBI in the game.

Junior Jessica Hughes (Hopewell) earned her fifth win at the mound (W, 5-1) after she pitched the first 6.1 innings and allowed eight hits against the 29 batters she faced and left the game with the lead. Jackson pitched the final 0.1 innings and got the save after she closed the game.

After today's wins against Kent State University, Tuscarawas, Beaver is now 17-8 overall for the season and 7-2 in the conference. 

The Lady Lions will travel to Penn State New Kensington for a PSUAC doubleheader on April 6. Game one is at 1 p.m. followed by game two at 3 p.m.