MONT ALTO, Pa. – After suffering a 9-1 loss against Penn State Mont Alto Thursday, New Kensington answered back in game two and won, 8-7. Thursday's even matchup places New Kensington at 4-6 in conference play and 5-7 overall.

Game 1

Throughout the five innings played, New Kensington ran in its only score of the game during the top of the first. Calle Zmenkowski (Cheswick, Pa./Fox Chapel) walked and stole second. Zmenkowski moved towards third after Natalie Heltebran (Irwin, Pa./Hempfield) grounded out and eventually scored off a Molly Collins (Verona, Pa./Riverview) double to center field.

The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the third when Mont Alto ran in six. The home team added another three runs in the final inning and snatched the 9-1 victory.

Game 2

The first half of the game belonged to New Kensington that scored five runs early on.

To start the game, Zmenkowski doubled to left center. Lauren Torgent (Tarentum, Pa./Highlands) was next on first after walking. Both players advanced on a wild pitch. Zmenkowski crossed home plate when Collins grounded out. Up against two outs, Abby Kane (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) singled up the middle and sent Torgent home. Mont Alto scored one in the bottom of the first, and New Kensington was up, 2-1.

The second inning advanced New Kensington by three. Tori Young (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler Area) made it to first on a walk and soon found herself on second. Andrea Eiler (Eau Claire, Pa./Moniteau) batted next and singled which advanced Young to third. With a Zmenkowski double, Young scored. Eiler scored soon after by stealing home and Zmenkowski stole third. Zmenkowski then scored on a passed ball. The score remained a steady 5-1 until the top of fourth.

Zmenkowski batted first and walked. She made her way around the bases on a fielder's choice and wild pitch. Off a passed ball, Zmenkowski scored. Heltebran scored New Kensington's second run of the fourth. At the end of the inning, New Kensington was still on top, 7-2.

In the top of the fifth, Zmenkowski scored once again for New Kensington after tripling to right field and running home on a ground out. This increased New Kensington's lead, 8-2.

Mont Alto pushed throughout the last two innings to catch New Kensington's lead. During the sixth, the home team ran in two and was only down, 8-4. With an inning left to play, Mont Alto ran in three which confirmed New Kensington had won the competition, 8-7.

Zmenkowski led game two for New Kensington. She batted a perfect 3-for-3, scored half of the team's runs, four, and had one RBI. Zmenkowski also tripled and doubled at bat while also striking out two when pitching.

New Kensington and Mont Alto will face off again on Saturday, Apr. 10 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Home field advantage goes to New Kensington.

Written by Janet Surma