MONT ALTO, Pa. – New Kensington baseball got a taste of defeat Saturday after losing its doubleheader, 6-2 and 6-1, to Penn State Mont Alto. New Kensington drops to 0-10 in the conference and 0-12 overall.

Game 1

When New Kensington was up to bat in the top of the fourth, Mont Alto had already taken the competition by storm with a 5-0 lead.

During the inning, New Kensington was able to run in one. Reise Matson (Kittanning, Pa./Armstrong) singled to right field and quickly progressed to third off a Thomas Santiago Jr. (Jersey City, N.J./M.E.T.S. Charter) double. New Kensington was next faced with two outs, but Mario Gomez (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J./Hasbrouck Heights) managed to single to center field and bring Matson home. It was down 5-1 moving into the bottom of the fourth.

Mont Alto was able to run in another score during the inning which brought its lead to 6-1.

The scoring slowed down for both teams in the next two innings, but New Kensington used its final time on offense to put another run on the board.

Gomez was up to bat and singled to right field. Braden Tristani (Sarver, Pa./Knoch) was up next and doubled which helped Gomez advance to third. Gomez was able to score off a ground out. 

Once New Kensington went up against two more outs, Mont Alto took the game, 6-2.

Gomez went 2-for-3 and had an RBI.

Game 2

In a five-inning game, Mont Alto used the first three to score all its six runs.

New Kensington was able to run in one during the top of the fourth. Matson singled to left field and got to second when Santiago got hit by the pitch. Both players advanced on a ground out, and Matson scored after Jared Busche (Pittsburgh, Pa./Gateway) reached first on a fielder's choice.

No more scoring took place after the top of the fourth which gave Mont Alto the win, 6-1.

Matson and Zachary Kerr (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell) both hit 1-of-1. Kerr also doubled.

Written by Janet Surma