BOX SCORE - GAME ONE

BOX SCORE - GAME TWO

For the second time in three days, the Bearcat softball team swept a home doubleheader, improving to 4-0 on the year with victories of 9-1 and 5-3 over visiting Penn State-Fayette.

In the opener, the Bearcats jumped out to a 7-0 lead after two innings of play, and invoked the eight-run, five-inning mercy rule for the second time this season, before SVC came back from an early 1-0 deficit in the nightcap to earn the sweep.

In the day's first game, the Bearcats sent seven batters to the plate in the opening frame, scoring four runs on four hits.  Leanna Seminsky led the frame off with a walk, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Megan Regula.  Maria Adams followed with a single to left, scoring Seminsky, before Alyssa Grossman walked to put runners on first and third.  SVC then executed a perfect double steal, with Grossman taking second and Adams scoring, to make the score 2-0.  Lindsey Daniels followed with a single to load the bases, before Becky Deane gave the Bearcats a 4-0 advantage with a two-run single to right.

Saint Vincent picked up right where it left off in the second inning, with Sam Shumaker beginning the frame in fine fashion, blasting a solo home run over the wall in right center to give SVC the 5-0 lead.  Shannon Hite followed with a single, and Seminsky reached on an error, before Regula came through with a two-run single to center to put the Bearcats in front 7-0.

Fayette would score its lone tally of the game in the fourth inning.  Kasey Ruble led off the inning with a single, stole second base, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and then scored on a ground out from Taylor Lux to  make the score 7-1.

Saint Vincent would answer with a single run in the fourth.  Brittany Caracci and Emily Petrowsky were issued back-to-back walks to start the inning, and each runner moved up 60 feet following a passed ball.  Grossman would reach on an error, and would then be caught in a run down between first and second, staying in the pickle long enough for Caracci to cross the plate and up the SVC lead to 8-1.

The Bearcats would close the scoring in the fifth inning.  With one out, Sabrina Schmittlein and Kerstin Makowski each walked, with both moving up following a Seminsky ground out.  Ruble, the Lions' hurler, was then called for an illegal pitch, sending Schmittlein home with the game-ending run.

Deane led the Bearcat offense in the opener, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs.  Regula also had a pair of RBIs, while Seminsky scored twice.  Shauna Hetrick started in the circle for SVC and earned the win, improving to 2-0 on the year after working three innings and allowing one hit with three strikeouts.  Emily Lauterbach came on in relief in the fourth, throwing two innings and allowing one run on one hit, with three strikeouts.

The Lions managed just two hits on the day, both recorded by Ruble.  Paige McWilliams started and took the loss, working 3.1 innings and allowing eight runs on seven hits, with five walks and one strikeout.

In the nightcap, the Bearcats again looked to be in business from the start, loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the first.  Ruble, again pitching for PSU, was able to escape the jam, recording the final two outs to strand the bases loaded.

The Lions would get on the board first, with Nicole Lovett doubling to lead off the second, and moving to third on a wild pitch.  Lovett would then cross the plate after Samantha Anderson reached on an error, making the score 1-0.

SVC would answer with three runs in the bottom of the second.  Lauterbach singled, and moved up on a sacrifice bunt from Lynn Buffoni.  Hite followed with an RBI double, tying the game at 1-all, before Seminsky and Dean would each walk, loading the bases.  Adams followed with a two-run sacrifice fly to center field, bringing Hite home from third and Seminsky home from second, to give the Bearcats the 3-1 advantage.

Penn State-Fayette got one run back in the third, as Ruble led off with a single, stole second, and scored on an error to cut the SVC lead to one.  Saint Vincent came right back with a run of their own in the fourth.  Seminsky singled, moved up to second on a Deane sacrifice bunt, and scored on an RBI single from Petrowsky, to put the hosts in front 4-2.  

The Lions would score their final run of the day in the sixth, as Lux reached on an error, moved to third on a single, and then scored on another Bearcat error to make the score 4-3, but SVC would score an insurance run in the sixth.  Seminsky reached on a fielder's choice, advanced to second after Deane was hit by a pitch, stole third, and then scored on an RBI groundout from Adams to close out the day's scoring.

Grossman started and went six innings for the Bearcats, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits, with seven strikeouts.  Hetrick came on in relief in the seventh, retiring the side in order with one strikeout, to earn her first save of the season.  In 9.0 innings of work this season, Hetrick has yet to allow a run, and has surrendered just three hits with 11 strikeouts. 

Each team managed just five hits, with Seminsky, Petrowsky, Shumaker, Lauterbach, and Hite recording the Bearcat tallies.  Seminsky also stole two bases and scored three runs, while Adams finished with three of the team's five RBIs.

Ruble took the loss for PSU-Fayette, throwing five innings and allowing four runs on five hits, while issuing six walks.  Lovett led the Lion offense with a 2-for-3 showing at the plate.

The Bearcats (4-0) will return to action on Tuesday, traveling to Mount Aloysius College for a doubleheader beginning at 3pm.