KSU Tusc Softball Drops Pair To PSNK At Home

Madi Garrett attempts to take third base on a ball hit to the right side of the infield.
Madi Garrett attempts to take third base on a ball hit to the right side of the infield.

The Golden Eagles softball team dropped a pair of games to visiting Penn State New Kensington on Wednesday afternoon, losing the first game 7-1 and falling in the second 15-2.

Not much was different for the Navy and Gold as they once again struggled to get out of the visiting half of the opening inning without surrendering a run. PSNK scored a run in the top of the first and despite surrendering a run to the Eagles in the bottom half of the inning---the only run KSU Tusc would score---the Lions tallied three more runs over the opening three innings to take a 4-1 lead. They added two more in the sixth and an insurance run in the top of the seventh and won the opener 7-1. 

Golden Eagles hitters struggled at the plate as they managed just five hits. Twice the Golden Eagles loaded the bases but failed to score as they stranded 11 runners in the loss. The Eagles stranded three runners in the first inning and three more in the third inning as they loaded the bases with just one out. They also committed four fielding errors that aided in the several runs for the blue and white. Micaiah Stemple and Sabrina Smith accounted for most of the KSU hits, as Stemple had the only extra basehit with a double to go along with scoring the lone run, while Sabrina Smith was 3/4 at the plate and smacked three singles in the loss.

In the second game, the Lions scored five times in the opening frame en route to a 15-2 victory in five innings. They plated runs in every inning with the exception of the fifth and held a 7-2 lead after two innings. A big seven run fourth inning put things out of reach as the Lions pounded out eight hits in the frame while the lineup batted around and took advantage of two Golden Eagles throwing errors. The Lions had 18 hits in the game.

Madi Garrett accounted for one of only two KSU Tusc runs, when she sent a double over the right fielder's head to score Jorden Moore who had led off the inning with a single. Kasey Fliger who had reached base on a error by the second baseman scored on an RBI ground out by Laken Ward. It was as close as the Eagles would get to scoring in the last game of the day as they could manged just five hits and seven base runners in the game. Garrett was the leading hitter for the Eagles with a double in two plate appearances.

The Golden Eagles next game is on Wednesday, April 17, 2019 when they visit Penn State Du Bois for a doubleheader that begins at 2 p.m.

 

Madi Garrett slides into third as the PSNK third baseman readies a tag.

 

Unfortunately, Madi was tagged out at third to end the inning.