McKeesport, PA. – After breaking a season long five-game losing streak with a doubleheader sweep on Wednesday, the Penn State Greater Allegheny Softball Team (11-8, 9-5) looks to keep their new winning streak going when they take on Penn State New Kensington (1-15-1, 1-9-1) on Friday at 2 p.m. PSUGA currently sits in third place in the PSUAC West Division and needs just two wins in their last six games to clinch a spot in the PSUAC Playoff tournament.
The ladies are coming off two convincing wins against PSU-DuBois where they won both halves of a doubleheader by the scores of 17-1. In each game, they had a big inning that propelled them to victory and gave DuBois very little chance of coming back in the ball game. In game one, it was a nine run second inning that put the game out of reach while game two saw the bats explode for 10 runs in the fourth.
Freshmen Rachel Able (Pataskla, OH./Watkins Memorial High) and Tara Love (Chandler, AZ./Campo Verde HS) led the way offensively for PSUGA pacing them to victory. Able combined to go 5-7 with five RBI between the two games including going a career best 4-5 with three RBI in game two of the doubleheader. Able has been a big contributor for her team over the last six ball games as she has driven in seven runs over that stretch.
Love came through with the best game of her young PSUGA career in game one of the doubleheader where she went 3-4 with four RBI. Love combined to go 4-8 on the day and drove in a team high six runs in the two victories. After a slower offensive start to the season, Love has been on fire over her last six games where she is hitting an even .500 (9-18) with seven RBI.
PSUGA currently sits in third place in the PSUAC West Division with a conference record of 9-5. With six games remaining, they can clinch a spot in the PSUAC playoffs with at least two wins in their remaining six games. They also have a chance to break the program record for conference wins in a season of 12, set back in the 2013-2014 season, if they can win four of those games.
PSU-New Kensington comes into Friday’s game on a four game losing streak coming off of a series sweep at the hands of PSU-Fayette. They dropped the final two games by scores of 11-3 and 11-2 to move their conference record to 1-9-1. Erika Finn was the lone bright spot in the offense going a combined 4-6 at the plate with three RBI.
PSU-New Kensington has the slight advantage in the all-time series with a record of 9-5 against PSUGA since the 2010 season. Last season, PSUGA went just 1-3 against New Kensington and, in the last 10 matchups, they have a record of 5-5.
First pitch for Friday’s game is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Alcola Field on the campus of Penn State New Kensington. It will be followed by the second game immediately after at 4 p.m.
