Lady Lions Win Two, Advance to PSUAC Championship

State College, PA - The Penn State Beaver softball team won two games in day one of the PSUAC Championship as # 1 seed Beaver defeated # 4 seed Penn State New Kensington, 7-0, and the # 3 seed Penn College Wildcats, 5-3.

Beaver took control early in game one. Freshman Chelsea Barnes (New Brighton High School, New Brighton, PA) led off with a single, then stole second. Sophomore Lindsey Scialdone (Ellwood City High School, Ellwood City, PA) followed with a walk. After a pop-out, senior Alonna Verrico (Rochester High School, Rochester, PA) followed with a single that drove in both.

Back-to-back doubles by freshman Korey Freyermuth (Perry Traditional Academy, Pittsburgh, PA) and sophomore Katie Landis (Rochester High School, Rochester, PA) pushed the lead to 3-0 after one inning. The three runs were all freshman pitcher Alyssa Carver (New Brighton High School, New Brighton, PA) needed, giving up only one hit, one walk, and striking out five on her way to a complete game shut-out. Beaver scored one in the third and three in the sixth for good measure, and took the win. Freyermuth led offensively, going three for three, as Landis went 2-3 with 2 RBIs.

In the second game, Penn College proved to be more of a challenge. Beaver got on the board again in the first. Back-to-back, two-out singles by Verrico and Freyermuth scored Scialdone and Verrico to give the Lady Lions a 2-0 lead after one. 

In the third inning, the Wildcats cut the lead in half, scoring one to bring the score to 2-1. Beaver responded in their half of the inning, scoring on a Freyermuth single that followed a triple by Verrico. Penn College scored in the fourth and fifth innings, though, to tie the game, 3-3. 

In the bottom of the fifth, Beaver responded again. Freshman Ashley Watkins (Seneca Valley High School, Cranberry Township, PA) led off with a single. Verrico took Watkins' place at first after grounding into a fielder's choice. Freyermuth then jumped on the first pitch at bat, putting the 0-0 pitch over the right center fence, hitting her first career playoff home run, and her seventh of the year, to give Beaver the lead permanently. 

Junior Kayla Chambers (South Side High School, Hookstown, PA) pitched five innings, giving up eight hits and stiking out three to earn the win. Freyermuth pitched scoreless sixth and seventh innings, gave up one hit, and struck out five to earn the save.

The wins advanced Beaver to the PSUAC Championship at noon, Sunday, May 2, when they'll take on the winner of the match-up between Penn College and #2 seed Penn State Hazleton.