McKeesport, PA. – It has been an up and down season for the Penn State Greater Allegheny Softball team (0-16, 0-16), However, they have one last chance to turn things around when they take on Penn State New Kensington (8-20, 4-12) on Monday at 1 and 3 p.m. With some of PSUGA’s key players starting to come around, it could be a chance for PSUGA to head into the offseason with some momentum as they try to continue to grow and prepare for next season.
They are coming off of a series sweep at the hands of PSU-Beaver where they combined to score four runs in the four-game series. The series sweep officially eliminated them from playoff contention, but PSUGA saw some of it’s key young core continue to improve and get ready to propel the team into the future of PSUGA Softball.
Alyssa Guzzie (Pittsburgh, PA./Fox Chapel HS) hit .286 from the top of the order and collected a team high two extra base hits in the series. Guzzie ranks second on the team with her .333 average and is tied for the team lead with three doubles this season with teammate Ivy Mervis (Pittsburgh, Pa./Allderdice HS). With Mervis and Guzzie at the top of the lineup, it gives PSUGA two hitters who can get on base at a consistent basis for the middle of the order.
Looking to lead the middle of the order is freshman Holly George (Homer City, Pa./Homer-Center HS) who has been mashing the ball this season. She is hitting a team high .394 and hit her first collegiate home run in the series with a two-run home run over the right field wall. It was her only hit of the series, but it was one of the biggest hits of the series and a confidence booster for the freshman.
PSUGA is looking for their first win of the season after an 0-16 start to the year on Monday. With the Penn State University Athletic Conference playoffs out of the question, PSUGA can relax and focus on getting better as they head into the off-season and prepare for the 2020 season.
PSU-New Kensington hasn’t seen much success of their own recently coming into Monday’s game having dropped four straight games taking a series sweep to PSU-Fayette last weekend. They dropped the finale on Tuesday losing by scores of 6-1 and 7-2. After falling behind 7-0 in the second game, they attempted a comeback scoring one in the fifth and one in the seventh. However, it was not enough as they were handed their 12th conference loss of the season. Alyssa Slancasukas led the way going 1-1 scoring one of her team’s two runs in the loss.
First pitch for Monday’s series opening doubleheader is scheduled for 1 p.m. followed by the second game at 3 p.m. The games will be played at Arconic Softball field located at 245 Frary Drive, New Kensington, PA. 15068.
