Beaver Pounds New Kensington in Doubleheader

By Alonna Verrico

On Sunday, Oct. 5 the Beaver Nittany Lions baseball team traveled to Penn State New Kensington where they pounded home two wins in a conference doubleheader, 16-1 and 11-2.

In game one, New Kensington scored a run in the bottom of the first and kept the score locked at 1-0 until the top of the fifth when Beaver drove in eight runs, bringing the score to 8-1 in the bottom of the fifth. Beaver scored eight more runs in the top of the seventh for the win.

Sophomore Jake Wojcik (Burgettestown, PA) had his first win of the season when he pitched seven innings and struck out four. Freshman Dan Sonsini (Aliquippa, PA) led with three hits. Senior Jeff Trojan (Rochester, PA) and sophomore Ben Sladick (Western Beaver, PA) each had a double.

In game two, Beaver didn't hold back and scored two runs in the top of the first. Beaver added another run in the top of the second and had two runs in the top of the third. New Kensington came back with two runs in the bottom of the third, but Beaver added three more in the top of the fifth, bringing the score to 8-2. Beaver scored the final three runs of the game in the top of the seventh.

Freshman Steve Smolar (New Brighton, PA) pitched a complete game while earning the win with seven strike-outs. Junior Ryan Raraigh (Riverside, PA) and freshman Dave Smith each had three hits while Sonsini, Raraigh, Smith, and junior Justin Parasida (Ambridge, PA) each had two RBIs.

Beaver's last game of the fall season is an away, non-conference doubleheader against the Robert Morris University Colonials at noon, Thursday, Oct. 9.