Lady Lions Split with New Ken in PSUAC Opener

Monaca, PA -- Lady Lions splint PSUAC opener with New Kensington.

In their first conference double header in PSUAC play, the Lady Lions hosted Penn State New Kensington. To open game 1, New Kensington jumped out to an early 3 run lead, but Beaver answered with one run of their own in the bottom of the inning off of an Asia Borders (Ellwood City, PA / Ellwood) double, scoring Brittany Garza (La Feria, TX / La Feria) who got on base as the lead off batter.  For the next three innings both teams remained scoreless.  In the top of the fifth inning, New Kensington expanded on their lead, plating four additional runs.  Again Beaver rallied to cut into their lead as the first three batters in the inning reached base safely allowing one run to score on a force out and a second run came off of a Jenna Petrucci (New Castle, PA / Shenango) single giving Beaver two runs in the inning.  

Beaver continued to struggle defensively in the final innings of the game, giving up 6 additional runs through the 6th and 7th innings.  The Lady Lions rallied in the bottom of the 7th, but it was too little too late as they fell by a final score of 12-5.

With the weather getting colder and the rain moving in, Beaver found new life in the second game of the double header. After giving up an early 1-0 lead in the top fo the first, Beaver scored three runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back.  A Brenna Cepull (Monaca, PA / Central Valley) double ignited the offensive fire that opened the scoring and it was Cepull who would consistently lead the offense throughout the game.  In her second at bat, she hit an RBI single as Beaver plated 4 runs in the second and doubled again in the third.  Beaver, with a 7-1 lead going into the third, had their best inning of the day as they found their offensive rhythm, scoring 7 additional runs in the inning.  With a comfortable 14-1 lead, the Lady Lions held New Kensington scoreless in the top of the fourth and were able to score the necessary two runs in the bottom of the inning to end the game by mercy rule, 16-1.

Leading the offense in the game was Cepull, who went 4 for 4 with 5 RBI's.  She was followed by four other Lady Lions who also contributed one hit each in the contest.  

On the mound, earning the win was Vanessa Jackson () who struck out six batters in four innings.

The Lady Lions return to action on Tuesday, April 5th as they host USCAA foe, Carlow University at 3:00 p.m.