Mont Alto, PA. – The Penn State Greater Allegheny Softball Team (6-3, 4-0) pushed their win streak to five straight games as they swept Penn State Mont Alto (4-2, 2-2) on Friday winning 3-0 and 7-4. The 6-3 start to the season is the best start in program history for PSUGA Softball as they are poised to make their first Penn State University Athletic Conference playoff appearance since the 2010-2011 season.
PSUGA Jumped out to an early lead in game one scoring two of their three runs in the bottom of the first when Lacie Lautner (Pleasant Hills, PA./Thomas Jefferson) drove in her team leading 12th RBI of the season scoring Alyssa Guzzie (Fox Chapel, PA./Fox Chapel). Hailey Snyder (Connelsville, PA./Connelsville) followed that up with an RBI single of her own giving PSUGA a 2-0 lead.
They would add their final run in the bottom of the 2nd when Guzzie hit an RBI single to push the lead to 3-0. The three runs were more then enough for Lautner who threw her first shutout of the season on her way to her fourth win. She pitched the complete seven innings giving up just three hits while striking out five in the victory. With PSUGA already with one win on the day, they were looking to complete the sweep of the doubleheader when they sent Tara Love (Chandler, AZ./Campo Verde HS).
It was PSU-Mont Alto that would gain the early advantage in game two putting up three runs in the top of the first. It would be a tough task for PSUGA to fight back as they went up against reigning PSUAC Pitcher of the week Mackenzie Brymesser. However, they did not back down from the challenge putting up two in the bottom of the second and responding with two more in the third to tie the game at four.
They would take the advantage for good in the bottom of the fourth. After loading the bases with nobody out, Guzzie and Rachel Able (Pataskla, OH/Watkins Memorial HS) each grounded out and drove in a run to give PSUGA a 6-4 lead. Lautner finished the inning reaching on an error and bringing home another run to push the lead to 7-4.
Love settled down after a rough first inning going five innings giving up four runs, three earned, on six hits while walking two and striking out four. Lautner finished the final two innings of the game giving up just two hits and leading PSUGA to their fourth conference win and their fifth straight win.
PSUGA combined for 11 hits between the two games and now sit at 4-0 in PSUAC play. With the sweep of the doubleheader, PSUGA now finds themselves all alone atop the PSUAC West Division Standings currently holding a one game lead over PSU-Fayette, who has a record of 3-1 in conference play.
PSUGA and PSU-Mont Alto will complete their four-game series on Sunday when they play another doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. for game one and will be followed by game two at 4 p.m.
