McKeesport, PA. – Despite a winless start to the 2019 season, the Penn State Greater Allegheny Softball team (0-12, 0-12) still has had some positives to build off of game in and game out. Last week, it was their offense that continued to get better as they rattled off a combined 20 runs in their four-game set with PSU-Mont Alto. That offense will continue to get an opportunity to shine when they take on Penn State Beaver (21-9, 10-2) on Friday for the start of a four-game series.
PSUGA got swept their last time out in a four-game series with PSU-Mont Alto, but the offense did show signs of life throughout the weekend. Their biggest game came in game one of the Sunday doubleheader when they scored a season high 11 runs in what turned out to be a 16-11 loss. Reigning PSUGA Female Athlete of the Week Savanna Simm (West Mifflin, PA./West Mifflin HS) had the best game of her season to date going 4-4 with four RBI in the loss.
After being down 16-4 entering their final at bats, PSUGA rallied to score six runs in the bottom of the ninth on three hits while taking advantage of some Mont Alto mistakes. However, the damage was already done and PSUGA fell for the 11th straight time. Game two saw the offense continue to battle but once again, the Mont Alto offense was too much and they fell 7-3 taking their fourth straight sweep of the season.
Simm was a catalyst for her team over the week and upped her season numbers from being a .077 hitter a couple weeks ago to being second on her team with a .384 average and she is tied for the team lead with six RBI. Holly George (Homer City, PA./Homer-Center HS) has also hit the ball well leading the way with a .480 average splitting time between first base, second base, and pitcher.
With two more series left on the season, PSUGA is looking to go into the off-season with some momentum as they prepare for the future of the program. With that, comes opportunity to play spoiler for the top two teams in the PSUAC down the stretch. Their final two series come against two of the top teams in the division in PSU-Beaver and PSU-New Kensington.
Up first is PSU-Beaver who has been on a tear so far this season. They have won nine of their last ten ball games, including a doubleheader split with Carlow their last time out. They dropped the first game of that doubleheader 7-1 and came roaring back in game two to take a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh. Carlow was able to get two on the board In the bottom half but Beaver’s Vanessa Jackson was able to settle down and quiet the bats. Tyler Johnson led the way for Beaver going 2-4 with an RBI in the game.
In 19 previous matchups with Beaver, PSUGA has not faired well with a record of 2-17 in those contests. Their last win came on April 22nd 2017 when they picked up a 6-2 win. Simm is the only active player who was on that team and ended up going 0-3 in that game as PSUGA used an early three run bottom of the second to claim victory.
First pitch for Friday’s doubleheader is scheduled for 2 p.m. at No-Offseason sports in Tarentum, PA. The address is 1590 Saxonburg Boulevard Tarentum, PA.