Scranton Softball Drops Home Doubleheader to Penn State Beaver

By: Ross Turetsky, Penn State Scranton Athletics

On a gorgeous spring Monday afternoon, the Penn State Scranton softball squad dropped both ends of their home doubleheader to conference foe Penn State Beaver by the scores of 20-0 and 12-0 respectively. With their pair of defeats, the Scranton Lions see their overall record go to 3-10 and 0-4 in the all-important league play schedule.

In the game one five inning affair, Penn State Beaver scored early and often, as they tallied seven runs in the top half of the first inning, two more in the second, a robust seven spot in the third, and a quartet in the fourth frame, as they cruised to their dominant road triumph. The road warriors also out hit Scranton by a 19-1 margin in the contest.

The hometown Lions were held to just one lone base hit in the opening matchup, as their stand-out sophomore infielder Olivia Shimonis recorded the base knock. Meanwhile, the powerful Penn State Beaver offensive attack was led by a whopping six players picking up multi-hit performances, as senior catcher Chloe Coleman, sophomore third baseman Bre Thomas, freshman infielder Leeanna West, junior Kylie Magnotta, freshman shortstop Selene Lopez, and senior left fielder Cassadie Speed set the pace for their ball club. Coleman went 3-5 at the plate, with a double, two runs scored, four RBI, and a stolen base to boot. Thomas went a perfect 3-3 at the dish, crushing a home run and a double, scoring a trio of runs, driving in six, and added a stolen base for good measure. West was 3-4, cranking a double, walked once, scored three times, and collected an RBI. Magnotta also went 3-4, drilling a double, scored a hat trick of runs, and drove in four. Lopez was 2-4, with a walk, a stolen base, scored a run, and had a pair of RBI. Last but certainly not least, Speed was a flawless 2-2 at the plate, scored twice, and recorded an RBI.

On the pitching side of things, Scranton started sophomore Ashlyn McNally on the mound and she took the loss in her 2/3 innings of work. Shimonis came in relief out of the bullpen for McNally and pitched a gritty 4 and 1/3 innings to finish up the game for her squad. Meanwhile, Penn State Beaver started West on the bump and she earned the victory, tossing four shutout innings without walking anyone, only surrendered one base hit, and fanned four Scranton batters. Freshman Hayley Reed came in relief to throw the final inning of the contest without allowing any runs, hits, or walks, and struck out three hitters.

In the game two nightcap five inning affair, Penn State Beaver once again slugged their way to a dominant victory, as they scored a run in the top of the first inning, five more in the third, and a big six spot in the fourth frame to coast to their triumph. The road warriors out hit Scranton 16-6 in the ball game.

Scranton's six hits came from a pair of base knocks from junior shortstop Kathryn Lahey and a hit apiece for senior left fielder Kelly Velehoski, Shimonis, freshman third baseman Rachel Murray, and McNally. Also senior second baseman Sam Collins accounted for the other Lions base runner, reaching via the walk. Meanwhile, Penn State Beaver had a well-balanced offensive attack with five players tallying multi-hit ball games, as Speed, Coleman, senior catcher Valentina Sandoval, Thomas, and sophomore right fielder Maria Matts led the way for their team. Speed was a perfect 3-3 at the dish, hammering two doubles, scored a pair of runs, and had a trio of RBI. Coleman was 2-3, hit a triple, scored twice, had an RBI, and a stolen base to boot. Sandoval also went 2-3, walked once, scored a pair, and picked up an RBI. Thomas went 2-3 at the dish, scored two runs, and drove in two. Lastly, Matts was 2-3 and crushed a double during the showdown.

On the pitching side of things, Scranton had Shimonis toe the slab and she picked up the loss while pitching all five innings in the matchup. Meanwhile, Penn State Beaver started Thomas on the mound and she earned the complete game victory, tossing a dazzling five shutout innings, giving up six hits, walked one, and fanned seven Scranton batters in the battle.

Now veteran head coach Mar Tsakonas and her 3-10 Penn State Scranton softball squad will look to snap their seven game losing streak when they next host non-conference foe Word of Life on Tuesday afternoon for a doubleheader, with first pitch scheduled for 3pm. Meanwhile head coach Andy Kirschner and his Penn State Beaver softball team, who with their victories over Scranton see their overall record improve to 9-8 and 3-3 in the crucial league play, will look to extend their three game winning streak when they next go on the road for a doubleheader against non-conference foe Butler County Community College this Wednesday starting at 3pm.