Lady Lions fall 2-0 in Saint Vincent doubleheader

By: Matylda Zamudio

MONACA, Pa. – The Penn State Beaver women's softball team fell 2-0 against Saint Vincent College in Wednesday's home doubleheader.

Despite the game going scoreless in the first four innings, the teams made in a nail-bitter starting with the fifth, with Saint Vincent taking a 2-0 lead over the Lady Lions. Beaver's defense didn't waiver and held the visitors to zero runs thanks to a strikeout by junior Jessica Hughes (Hopewell), who pitched second in the game, and freshman Tyler Johnson (San Antonio/East Central), -- in as Beaver's shortstop -- who threw to the second and third basemen to force two outs in the top of the sixth, which gave the offense the perfect opportunity to get back on track in the bottom of the inning. But then things started to look a little grim for the Lady Lions after they collected two outs without putting up a single run on their side of the board. However, Beaver got its bases loaded and that's when junior Lacey Weible (Hookstown/South Side) showed up big time at bat. Weible knocked the ball through Saint Vincent's defenders, which drive freshman Michelle Cisco (Churchville/C. Milton Wright), senior Brenna Cepull (Monaca/Central Valley) and senior Carley Schroeder (Freedom) to home plate as she made it to third base herself, earning an RBI triple to give Beaver a 3-2 lead. But Saint Vincent answered back in the top of the seventh by making four runs to take the lead back from the Lady Lions (6-3). But the Lady Lions kept their game alive as Tyler Johnson got her an RBI double after she advanced freshman Taylor Johnson (San Antonio/ East Central) home to cut the deficit to two (6-4). Beaver continued its comeback and got the game within striking distance as Hughes then singled-in Tyler Johnson to bring the game to 6-5. Despite a valiant late effort for the Lady Lions, they weren't able to tie the game before collecting a third out and lost game one 6-5. 

Weible led the offense in game one, where she went 2 for 3 at bat and earned 3 RBIs followed by Tyler Johnson, who went 2 for 4 with 1 RBI.

Jackson took the loss for Beaver in game one (L, 6-2). She pitched 5.0 innings, allowed eight hits and struck out three of the 21 batters she faced.

Beaver struggled offensively in game two, but the defense kept the game close by only allowing three runs by the fifth inning (3-0). The sixth inning was quiet for both teams, but Saint Vincent's offense forged a big run in the top of the seventh that began with a home-run followed by six more runs to put Beaver in a 10-0 hole entering the bottom of the inning. Unfortunately, the Lady Lions weren't able to make a comeback and lost game two 10-0.

Senior Brenna Cepull (Monaca/Central Valley) and Hughes led the offense in game two, where they each went 1 for 3 at bat.

The pitching rotation allowed 15 hits from the 39 batters-faced in the second game.

After today's doubleheader against Saint Vincent, Beaver is now 11-7 overall for the season.

The Lady Lions will host Penn State Fayette on Friday, Mar. 29. Game one is at 2 p.m. followed by game two at 4 p.m.