SB splits at New Ken

For the second time in four days, the Penn State Fayette softball team split a Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) double header Saturday, and just like Wednesday, Fayette dropped the opener at Penn State New Kensington before winning the second game.

Fayette (4-8 overall, 2-4 PSUAC) dropped the opener 2-0 but bounced back with a 15-5 win in the finale.

"In the first game, we just couldn't find our offense," said first-year coach Alex Rohlf. "We were making it too easy for New Kensington. Hayley (White) pitched a great game but unfortunately, we couldn't give her any run support."

In the opener, New Ken's Marissa Bruns limited Fayette to three hits, with two coming off the bat of Courtney McKlveen (Ligonier, PA/Ligonier HS).  She finished with a single and a double.

New Ken (1-3, 1-3) scored one run in the third and added an insurance run in the sixth.

White only allowed two hits and struck out six in defeat.

While the Fayette offense struggled in the first game, it scored 15 runs on 17 hits and it did not take long for Fayette to jump on New Ken as it scored seven runs in the top of the first. 

"In the second game, we came out swinging and put a bunch of runs on the board early and didn't look back," Rohlf said. "We were aggressive.  That's the kind of softball our team is capable of playing."

Cassidy Uphold (Grantsville, MD/Northern Garrett HS), Kelsey Holp (Grindstone, PA/Frazier HS) and Emily Conklin (Carmichaels, PA/Carmichaels HS) all had RBI singles in the inning, McKlveen stole home and Fayette took advantage of six New Ken errors in the inning.

In the second, Fayette scored four more runs to make the score 11-0.  McGhee had a two-run single, Conklin had an RBI single and Carissa Cyphert (Scottdale, PA/Southmoreland HS) added an RBI on a fielder's choice. 

After adding two unearned runs in the third, Kelsey Holp (Grindstone, PA/Frazier HS) doubled in a pair in the seventh and Fayette closed out the 10-run win.

McGhee and Holp finished with three RBI in the second game while Cyphert and Conklin had two. 

McKlveen went the distance in the circle and gave up five runs, three earned, on five hits and struck out six.

Fayette hosts Allegany College of Maryland Tuesday for a non-conference double header.  Action starts at 2:00 p.m.  Fayette then heads out east this weekend.  It plays doubleheaders at Penn State Hazleton (3-7, 3-1) Friday and at Penn State Scranton (0-10, 0-4) Saturday. 

"As a team, we have to figure out how to string together a few wins," Rohlf said. "We need to find a way to come out hot in the first games and not wait for the second game.  We have a fun weekend out East coming up.  "It'll be a fun and competitive road trip."

For more information on the Penn State softball team, go to https://www.psfathletics.com/sports/sball/index or follow the team on Instagram @fayetteathletics.