Lions fall to New Kensington in 1st round of PSUAC playoffs

Mont Alto, Pa. - Friday's playoff softball games at Penn State Mont Alto marked Hazleton's return to postseason play but the Lions would be stopped in their tracks, unable to edge Penn State New Kensington who eliminated Hazleton from competition with two wins against the Nittany Lions. Hazleton nearly came back in the final inning of the first game of the day, but a six run deficit proved to be too much to overcome as Hazleton fell by the score of 9-6. Both squads would meet again in the third game of the day and things were looking up for the Lions to advance to a Saturday match up with Penn State Mont Alto, until three unanswered scored by New Kensington in the later innings sank the Lions hopes of continuing in the post-season. 

Game One: Penn State New Kensington 9, Penn State Hazleton 6 - Final

The first game of the day started out great for the Hazleton squad. The Lions jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning beginning with three straight singles from first year player Amy Dwojewski, and third year players Ashley Wilson and Tori Rabuck. Rabuck's single plated Dwojewski for the game's first score and two batters later, a single by second year player Tiffany Brogan scored two runs to give Hazleton the early boost. But the Lion's lead would be short-lived. New Kensington bounced right back with three scores of their own in the bottom of the first and after a clean trip on defense, New Kensington took the lead in the second inning with two additional scores, notching eight hits off Hazleton's Paige Parisi in the first two innings combined. The Lions would trail 5-3 for the next two innings but were unable to produce any offense in the middle innings and in the bottom half of the fifth frame, New Kensington broke the game open with another three-run effort, getting back to back home runs and a productive ground ball out to push the score to 8-3. New Kensington added an insurance score in the sixth inning as they continued to stymie the Hazleton bats. But in the top of the seventh frame, Hazleton finally got back into the action, A lead off double by third year player Athena Matenkoski started the rally, followed by an RBI single from Dwojewski dented the New Kensington lead and after two more runners reached safely, Tiffany Brogan drove in a pair of runs with a two-out double to right field. Hazleton was gaining momentum but it was too little, too late as New Kensington retired the next hitter to close out the game 9-6. 

The Hazleton line up produced 11 hits in the ball game, but those hits were limited to just five players, all of whom collected multiple hits. Brogan led the Lions with a 3-for-4 effort, adding four RBI in the game with Dwojewski, Wilson, Rabuck and Matenkoski garnering two hits a piece. Parisi issued just one free pass in six innings of work but New Kensington collected 14 hits off the fourth year hurler, who ended the game with the loss and eight earned runs allowed. 

Game Two: Penn State New Kensington 6, Penn State Hazleton 3 - Final

After losing a close battle with Penn State Mont Alto, New Kensington and Hazleton squared off for the second time on Friday, this time in an elimination game. With less fireworks in their second match up of the day, this one was close until the end. Single scores by both teams led to a 1-1 game until the Lions pulled ahead in the top of the third. There it was Matenkoski with another lead off double, and the third year player came home to score on a single by Dwojewski to put Hazleton up 2-1. But once again, Hazleton's lead was short-lived. Two singles by New Kensington hitters resulted in runners at second and third base and a wild pitch, combined with a throwing error allowed both runners to score safely. Trailing 3-2, Hazleton rallied in the fifth inning after first year player Trinity Shaver-Cooper doubled to start the inning. With runners at the corners, Shaver tied the game at 3-3 on a stolen base attempt by fourth year player Jess Lepore and with just one out, Hazleton had runners at second and third base, but the Lions were unable to cash in any additional scores as New Kensington struck out the next batter and induced an inning-ending pop-up to escape further damage.

New Kensington turned that defensive effort into offense, and in their next turn at the plate, retook the lead with two hits off Rabuck. After shutting down the Lions in the top of the 6th, New Kensington added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a commanding 6-3 lead. In the end, Hazleton just couldn't find the offense needed to get over the hump, despite a solid pitching effort from Rabuck. New Kensington retired eight out of Hazleton final nine players to come to the plate, including three straight hitters in the seventh inning to top Hazleton for the second time on Friday, this time by the score of 6-3.

Seven players collected hits in game two for Hazleton but New Kensington pitching was successful in scattering those hits and staying out of big innings. Dwojewski ended the day as the top run producer going 1-for-3 with an RBI with Shaver, Matenkoski and Rabuck going 1-for-3 with a run scored each. Rabuck pitched well in the loss but without the run support, New Kensington was tough to top. Rabuck ended the game allowing six runs on eight hits, with two strike outs in a fine effort by the third year player.