Hazleton Sweeps Softball Twinbill

Hopwood – Penn State Hazleton used a big inning in both games to come away with a doubleheader sweep on Saturday by scores of 10-2 and 16-1.

In game one, it was a six-run seventh inning that did the damage.

Emily Roat tossed the complete game for Hazleton, allowing only Samantha Anderson's sixth inning double, to pick up the win. She allowed one earned run and struck out seven.

Hazleton got on the board first, scoring a single run in the first inning thanks to a Fayette fielding miscue.

The Roaring Lions answered in the bottom of the first.  Kasey Ruble was hit by a pitch and stole second. She moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at one.

Hazleton reclaimed the lead in the top of the second. Shania Verbonita singled  to center field and scored on Ariel Kravetsky's double down the left field line for a 2-1 lead. Fayette tied the game in the bottom of the second picking up an unearned run as Kaitlyn Novak raced home on Hazleton's bobble of Jill Guthrie's grounder.

Hazleton exploded in the top of the seventh. Kravetsky's RBI single scored Verbonita. Krystin Baker then followed with a three-run triple. Boozewich followed with a double. She later scored on Amanda Collins' sacrifice fly.

Kasey Ruble struck out seven for Fayette.

In game 2, Hazleton scored eight runs in the first inning to take command of the second game en route to a 16-4 win.

Krystin Baker and Brooke Hess had four hits each and drove in 10 runs for Hazleton, the defending PSUAC champions.

Ruble's two-run homer over the fence in left center field in the fourth inning was Fayette's hitting highlight of the afternoon. Longo had an RBI single to help the Fayette attack.

Novak could not overcome a rocky start and took the loss.

Ariel Kravetsky scattered seven hits and struck out five to pick up the win for Hazleton.

The Roaring Lions return to action Sunday when they host Penn State Scranton at noon at Beuhner Field.