Point Park Takes Two From New Kensington

KENNEDY TOWNSHIP, Pa. - New Kensington softball dropped both games of a doubleheader with Point Park University Tuesday afternoon at Fairhaven Park. With an explosive first inning, Point Park scored nine runs before adding two more in the second and third. They earned their final two runs in the fourth before New Kensington put up one run. Point Park finished with the 13-1 victory. In the second game, Point Park got up by two early in the game before running across four times in both the second and third. New Kensington produced one run in the third and one in the fourth. Point Park earned the 10-2 win.

Game 1

Marissa Bruns (Gibsonburg, Ohio / Gibsonburg) got the start for New Kensington, throwing 0.1 innings. Bruns was charged with seven runs on six hits, walking one. She was replaced by sophomore Andrea Eiler (Eau Claire, Pa. / Moniteau) who threw 2.2 innings allowing four runs on three hits while walking two. Illeana Ramirez (Locke, N.Y. / Moravia Central) finished the game for New Kensington, throwing one inning and giving up two runs on three hits, walking one.

Point Park opened up the game with repeated scoring starting with a single 2 RBI to advance a runner to third and earn the first runs of the contest. Point Park then tripled for two more runs followed by a single to add one more.

Point Park also took advantage of the bunt, earning yet another RBI while advancing a runner to second. With runners in scoring position, another double would drive in their seventh run of the first inning. Batters grounded out to first for the eighth run and an error by first base would contribute to their ninth.

Point Park ran across again on an error by the catcher in the bottom of the second. A final error by third base advanced one runner to third for Point Park to score again. A double 2 RBI in the bottom of the fourth would bring Point Park's scoring to a close to lead by 13.

New Kensington would earn their only run of the game on an Andrea Eiler flyball to center field that drove in Lianna Gonzalez (New York, N.Y. / Manhattan Hunter Science). Point Park finished on top with the 13-1 win.

Game 2

Marissa Bruns also started the second game for New Kensington and threw 2.1 innings. The freshman gave up 10 runs on 11 hits, walking one and striking out one. Andrea Eiler entered the game to throw 1.2 innings. She gave up no runs on two hits while striking out one. Bruns is now 1-3 on the season.

The game began in similar fashion. A Point Park single RBI brought in the first run of the contest. Point Park scored again in the bottom of the first on an error by shortstop. One inning later a Point Park RBI advanced a runner to third while driving in another run to lead by three. A passed ball put a runner on second and brought another runner home before two double RBIs put the score at 6-0.

Lianna Gonzalez reached first on an error for Taylor Hill (Milford, Pa. / Deleware Valley) to score. Point Park singled an RBI before a double 2 RBI extended their lead by eight. Point Park scored their final run on a single to put their lead at nine. New Kensington earned the final run of the game on an Ashley Encarnacion (New York, N.Y. / Women's Academy of Excellence) single to drive in Marissa Bruns. Point Park kept their lead to finish the day with the 10-2 win. The women are now 1-5 on the year, 1-3 in conference play.

"Last year we split almost every single doubleheader," said Courtney Biswick (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Hills) And I know last year personally it would be slow going in the beginning, and then toward the end we would get it together, and then the second game we would be completely fine."

New Kensington will be back on the road on Friday to resume conference action against Penn State Scranton with first pitch set for 3 p.m.

Written by Matt Heavner, PSNK Athletics Communications Intern