New Kensington softball plays even matchup against Beaver

NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. – New Kensington softball split its doubleheader with Penn State Beaver Wednesday. New Kensington took game one, 8-6, while Beaver pulled ahead in game two, 5-2. New Kensington now sits at 3-5 in the conference and 4-6 overall.  

Game 1

Starting off the first inning with four runs, Beaver quickly took charge of the game. In the bottom of the inning, Lauren Torgent (Tarentum, Pa./Highlands) homered and put New Kensington on the board, 4-1.

Beaver scored another run the following inning and pulled ahead 5-1. It wasn't until the bottom of the third that New Kensington almost tied the game, 5-4.

Calle Zmenkowski (Cheswick, Pa./Fox Chapel) began the scoring with a triple to left center. Torgent reached first base soon after, and Zmenkowski scored. Riplee Burkhart (Verona, Pa./Penn Hills) was next on base with a single and advanced to second when Natalie Heltebran (Irwin, Pa./Hempfield) reached first on a fielder's choice. With a single, Molly Collins (Verona, Pa./Riverview) hit first and the bases were loaded. Burkhart and Heltebran came home after an Abby Kane (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) double to center field.

Beaver had a slow fourth inning, and Courtney Biswick was able to run one in for New Kensington and knotted the game, 5-5. Throughout the next two innings, Beaver had trouble running in its players, but New Kensington found momentum in the bottom of the sixth to take over the lead.

Kane, Tori Young (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler Area), and Biswick loaded the bases off of singles. Kane was first to score when Andrea Eiler (Arnold, Pa./Chartiers Valley) walked. Young was next to run home after Zmenkowski reached first on a fielder's choice. With a Torgent single to left field, Biswick made it home and put New Kensington over the top, 8-5.  

Heading into the seventh, and final inning, Beaver only ran in one and handed New Kensington the win.

Biswick led New Kensington's hitting by going 3-for-3, while Torgent went 2-for-4 including a homer and three RBI. Zmenkowski finished with two RBI and a triple.

Game 2

New Kensington was in command as early as the bottom of the first. Zmenkowski, Torgent, and Burkhart singled back-to-back and loaded the bases. Collins batted fourth and was hit by the pitch which ran in Zmenkowski. Torgent was next to go home after Kane walked. At the end of the inning, New Kensington had a 2-0 lead.

Throughout the rest of the game, Beaver continued to bring in runs, while New Kensington struggled to, which allowed the visitors to conquer, 5-2.

Zmenkowski and Torgent both went 2-for-4. Torgent, Kane, and Biswick all doubled, and Kane also had an RBI.

New Kensington will travel to Penn State Mont Alto one more time this season for a doubleheader on Thursday, Apr. 8 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Written by Janet Surma