McKeesport, PA. - the Penn State Greater Allegheny softball team opened up their 2019 season against Penn State Fayette on Saturday afternoon. It was not PSUGA's day as they got swept losing the first game 19-0 and losing the second game 16-0.
The first game saw PSUGA fall behind early giving up five runs to Fayette in the top of the first. Errors cost PSUGA throughout the inning and put them in a hole early. Fayette's Tiffany Markovich was solid holding PSUGA to just two hits in the game.
The first came right away in the bottom of the first when Tara Love (Chandler,AZ./Camp Verde HS)hit a sharp grounder up the middle to put a runner on first with two outs. However, PSUGA could not find a way to bring her home keeping the score at 5-0 after one.
Their second hit came two innings later when Samantha Snashell Buffalo, NY./Center School for Applied Technology) to right to lead off the bottom of the third. But once again PSUGA could not string hits together and stranded her on base. The score would sit at 14-0 after three and a five-run top of the fifth closed out the 19-0 win for Fayette.
Game two saw Fayette get out to a similarly fast start when they once again put up five runs in the top of the first. PSUGA once again got a runner on in the bottom half of the inning when Alyssa Guzzie (Fox Chapel, PA./Fox Chapel HS) singled for her first hit of the season but she was left on and the score remained 5-0 after one.
PSUGA mounted their biggest threat of the day in the bottom of the third with one out when Haley Snyder ( Connellsville, PA./ Connellsville HS) doubled to right field and Snashell followed it up with a walk to put two on for the first time in the game.. After that Fayette barred down and struck out the next two batters to end the inning.
After leading 12-0 after three innings Fayette added a four spot in the top of the fourth to increase their lead to 16-0 . PSUGA could not find a way to answer in the bottom half of the inning and Fayette claimed the sweep of the doubleheader.
Guzzei let the offense in game going 2-2 with two singles while Snyder added the teams first extra-base hit of the seasonas part of a 1-3 day. Love got the start in game one going five innings giving up 19 runs while Holly George (Homer City, PA./Homer City HS) got the start in game two once again going the complete game.
PSUGA has some positives to build off of after upping their offense in game twoas head coach Victoria Blosser and her team look to rebound. They have one week to continue to get better before they're back in action.
PSUGA softball return to action on Friday when they go on the road to take on Penn State DuBois in double header action. Game one is set for 2 p.m. followed by game two at 4 p.m.
