Greater Allegheny Softball Takes Two Wins over WCCC, Wednesday Afternoon

Pittsburgh, Pa. - Ending both games short of the seven scheduled innings, the Penn State Greater Allegheny women's softball team take two games over Westmoreland County Community College, Wednesday afternoon, by the scores of 12-4 and 15-7.

Senior pitcher Sam Segiel (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) started on the bump in game two for Greater Allegheny, as the righty allowed just four hits with six strike-outs through six innings of pitching. 

WCCC was the first one the board in the top of the first inning, along with grabbing two more in the top of the second inning, GA down 3-0 going into their third at bat.

Sophomore outfielder Shelby Bendick (White Oak, Pa./McKeesport) doubled to to left center, bringing home freshman catcher Kasey Dansak (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport), who reached base on an error by the second baseman. Junior infielder Jordyn Holsing (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) singled up to center field, bringing home Bendick to score.  Junior infielder Kelli Hall (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport Area) was next up to bat, as she also hit a single up the middle, bringing home Holsing, GA evening the score at three apiece. 

Senior outfielder Casey Naylor (Glassport, Pa./South Allegheny) doubled to left field, sending freshman Marina Rinaldi (Philadelphia, Pa./Philadelphia High School for Girls) to third and Hall home, taking the first Greater Allegheny lead of the day, 4-3. Both Rinaldi and Hall went home after freshman outfielder Adrielle Brisbon (Fort Washington, Md./Friendly) doubled and went to third on an error by the second baseman. Sophomore infielder Ashley Lowenstein (San Jose, Calif./Presentation) reached first on an error as Brisbon went home and capped off the scoring drive in the third inning for the Greater Allegheny Lions, GA now leading WCCC 7-3.

WCCC grabbed an unearned run in the top of the 4th before Greater Allegheny made their next mark in the bottom of the 5th. Brisbon opened the 5th with a double to left field before she managed to move to third. Bendick moved to first as Brisbon scooted home, Greater Allegheny doubling WCCC's tally at 8-4.

Greater Allegheny polished off game one through major efforts in the bottom of the 6th, as the home team rolled on with four more runs, ending the game with a run rule. As Holsing found herself on third, Rinaldi hammered a sacrifice fly ball to the short stop to bring her home, 9-4. Naylor singled, scoring Hall to continue GA's stride. Dansak singled to left field, batting in Naylor. Bendick was next at the plate, as she doubled to left field, scoring Lowenstein and finishing game one, Greater Allegheny ahead 12-4.

Greater Allegheny had 16 hits through the six innings of play, capitalizing on 12 runs. Hall had a perfect day, as she went 4-for-4 at the plate, scoring two runs and bringing in an RBI. Both Naylor and Holsing went 2-for-4 in the first game, both putting up two runs apiece. Brisbon hit 3-for-4, as she scored two runs and batted in two runs. 

WCCC came out hot in the top of the first in the second game, as they put two runs up on the board. Greater Allegheny's Segiel earned an RBI as Lowenstein crossed the bag, splitting the defecit, 2-1. The bottom of the second saw a homer from Rinaldi, as she connected with the ball to go up and over the fence in left field, tying the game at two.

The third inning was huge for both teams. WCCC posted three more runs to put some pressure on Greater Allegheny. With great hitting on the Lions side, GA put up eleven runs to capsize WCCC. Segiel grabbed two RBI's with a single as she sent both Bendick and Dansak across home plate. Holsing drove a triple down the right field line, also pushing two runs home as Brisbon and Segiel scored. Rinaldi reached on a fielder's choice as Holsing made her way for home plate. Lowenstein was next up for a hit, as she hit a single and brought home Rinaldi and Hall. Bendick swung through to get a triple, bringing in three runs as the plate saw Dansak, Lowenstein and Naylor. Brisbon closed the inning with a single up the middle, scoring Bendick and boosted Greater Allegheny to a deafening 13-5 lead over WCCC.

Lowenstein homered to left center to bring in Rinaldi, enhancing their lead to 15-5. WCCC also hit a homer to left field in the top of the fifth, also bringing in another runner, completing the game at 15-7, Greater Allegheny advancing to their second win on the day.

Bendick earned her first win on the mound, as she faced 26 batters, allowing just nine hits. Dansak went 3-for-4, adding two runs to the Greater Allegheny tally. Lowenstein and Bendick both went 2-for-3 at the plate, crossing home with three and two runs each, respectively. Lowenstein also put up four RBI's in game two.

As Greater Allegheny (2-4, 0-2) takes their first two wins of the season, the rest up for their big Penn State University Athletic Conference weekend. On Saturday, Penn State Brandywine comes to Woodland Hills for a double-header scheduled for a 12 p.m. first pitch. On Sunday, Penn State Schyulkill comes for a double-header as well at Woodland Hills, also scheduled for a 12 p.m. first pitch.