GA Softball Racks up Runs Against Worthington-Scranton

Dunmore, Pa. - Through 14 innings of action, the Penn State Greater Allegheny softball team fell narrowly in two games over Penn State Worthington-Scranton by tallies of 7-6 and 10-8.

In game one, Worthington-Scranton went up three runs through two innings to hold Greater Allegheny scoreless. The top of the fourth inning welcomed Greater Allegheny to the plate. Senior first baseman Kelli Hall (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport Area) doubled to center field before sophomore center fielder Adrielle Brisbon (Fort Washington, Md./Friendly) was hit-by-pitch. Sophomore third baseman Marina Rinaldi (Philadelphia, Pa./Philadelphia High School for Girls) doubled to bat in Brisbon and Hall before sophomore left-fielder Nicole Velasquez (Long Eddy, N.Y./Sullivan West) singled to score Rinaldi, Greater Allegheny evening the score at three apiece.

Worthington-Scranton put up another run in the bottom of the fourth inning before marking three more in the bottom of the sixth inning, WS leading GA 7-3. Freshman second baseman Jameeka McCray (Philadelphia, Pa./Lankenale) singled before freshman catcher Kaylin Bob (Atlanta, Ga./Forest Park) singled to fill the first two bases. Junior right-handed pitcher Shelby Bendick (White Oak, Pa./McKeesport Area) homered to bring in three runs, closing the deficit 7-6 Worthington-Scranton still leading. Despite Brisbon able to get to second after an error and a stolen base, the Greater Allegheny Lions ran out of time as the top of the seventh inning came to an end with the home team in the lead, WS taking game one 7-6.

Bendick pitched all six innings in game one to face 33 batters, sitting down seven on strike-outs. Eight hits and six runs were achieved through 31 GA at bats, leaving six on base. Velasquez went 2-for-3 in game one, as she batted a run in. Bendick went 1-for-4 with one run totaled and three RBIs.

Greater Allegheny was eager for game two, as the Lions came out to hit in the top of the first. Freshman shortstop Jen Keefer (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) walked before Bob tripled to push Keefer home to post the first score of the game. Bendick singled to second base as Bob scored, 2-0 GA. 

Worthington-Scranton evened the mark at two in the bottom of the first inning. The GA offense came back in the top of the second. Keefer walked to first as Bob pushed Keefer all the way home after a RBI single. Bob then stole second before Bendick singled to center field, GA ahead 4-2.

Worthington-Scranton added another run in the bottom of the second to make the score 4-3 to hold the third inning scoreless on both sides. Both Greater Allegheny and Worthington-Scranton managed three runs apiece in the fourth inning. 

Keefer doubled to right-field before she advanced to the third inning after a ground-out. Bedick singled to right-field to score Keefer. Brisbon singled before Rinaldi walked to fill the bases. Velasquez doubled to bat home both Brisbon and Bendick, 7-3 GA. Worthington-Scranton matched them moving the score to 7-6 going into the fifth inning. 

Greater Allegheny was held scoreless through the fifth and sixth innings, as Worthington-Scranton managed to drop four runs in the bottom of the sixth, putting Greater Allegheny behind for the first time in the game, 10-7.

Keefer reached first on an error by the right-fielder before she advanced to second. Bob singled to bat in Keefer, tallying the eighth and final run of game two, 10-8 Worthington-Scranton.

Hall pitched all six innings as she saw 39 batters. The GA offense hammered 14 hits off of 34 GA at bats. Rinaldi went 2-for-2 as both Hall and Brisbon went 2-for-4, Brisbon tallying a run. Bendick hit 3-for-4 as she added a run herself with three RBIs. Bob batted 3-of-5 as she posted two runs herself with three runs batted in.

Greater Allegheny (0-7, 0-4) is set to go on a Penn State University Athletic Conference weekend trip with the baseball team. On Saturday, the softball team is set to go up against Penn State Brandywine for a 2 p.m. first pitch. Sunday brings a PSUAC double-header with Penn State Schyulkill, first pitch set for 12 p.m.