Lady Lions storm past New Kensington on the road

By: Matylda Zamudio

NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. – After scoring to wins against PSUAC rival New Kensington at home on Thursday, the Penn State Beaver women's softball team piled on two more conference wins against the rival as part of Saturday's road doubleheader.

The Lady Lions shut out New Kensington 10-0 in game one and had an almost similar performance in game two, winning handily 10-1.

Senior Brenna Cepull (Monaca/Central Valley) facilitated the offense in the second inning after she homered to drive-in freshman Michelle Cisco (Churchville/C. Milton Wright) to get the Lady Lions first on the board (1-0). With the score 2-0 at the top of the third, the Lady Lions got hot at the plate and put up five straight runs with the last one off Cepull, who hit a sacrifice fly ball out to center field to advance Cisco and Junior Jessica Hughes (Hopewell) home (7-0). Beaver then shut out New Kensington after putting up three more runs in the fourth and holding the rivals scoreless (10-0).

Cepull led the way for Beaver in game one after she racked up 4 RBIs and went 1 for 2 followed by Cisco, who went 3 for 3 at bat. 

Senior Vanessa Jackson (Snohomish) keeps her pitching streak going (W, 11-2) after she pitched a complete game and earn a win for the first game. Jackson only allowed two hits and struck out six of the 17 batters she faced.

In game two, Beaver got the scoring started in the second inning after senior Brittany Zahn (New Brighton) flew out to left field to propel Cepull to home plate (1-0). The Lady Lions took over the game once again, putting up three runs over the next two innings including Cable, who advanced to second on an error by left field and singled-in Cepull and Cisco to score in the top of the third (4-0) and Cisco, who tripled to push senior Brittany Garza (La Feria) home in the top of the fourth (7-0). The Lady Lions kept the momentum going in the sixth, earning three more runs with the last two off a freshman Onika Miles (Lake Stevens/Lake Stevens) single to drive-in Cable advanced to second; B. Cepull and Jackson to home plate (10-0). New Kensington managed to earn one run in the bottom of the sixth, but it was a little too late as the Lady Lions collect their fourth win of the series (10-1).

Cisco and senior Dina Cable (Mannington/ Salem County Vo Tech) led the way for Beaver in game two, where they each snagged 2 RBIs and went 2 for 3 at bat.

At the mound for Beaver was senior Torey Cassidy (Hinsdale/Portville), who got the win in game two (W, 2-3) after she pitched a complete game. Cassidy only allowed seven hits and struck out one of the 22 batters she faced.

After today's wins against New Kensington, Beaver is now 19-8 overall for the season and 9-2 in the conference. 

The Lady Lions will be back for more conference action against Penn State Fayette on April 8. The game is slated at 5 p.m.