Lady Lions tally 31 hits in sweep at Baptist Bible College

Clarks Summit, PA - The Lady Lions traveled north on Thursday for a double-header against NCAA - 3 opponent Baptist Bible College. Both games were dominated by the Nittany Lion bats as Hazleton swept the Defenders by scores of 18-5 and 13-2, both games ending in five innings.

Game 1: Penn State Hazleton 18, Baptist Bible College 5 (Final 5 Innings)

 Top 1: Hazleton started off hot, with 4 early runs in the inning. A free pass and a blast by Brianna Grunza put the Lions up by 2. Three batters later, catcher Erin Dougherty found pay-dirt with a double to left field scoring to on the play to give Hazleton a 4-0 lead in the first.

 Top 2: Making quick work of the Defenders turn at the plate, Hazleton picked up where they left off in the first, sending 13 batters to the dish in the 2nd inning. With one run already in, Andrea Quillman belted a line drive over the centerfield fence for a 3 RBI homerun, her third of the season. Three batters later, Kayla Rhome plated 2 more runs with a single to centerfield, bringing Britani Esser to the plate. Esser crushed a towering shot, just inside the left foul pole to cap the 8-run inning an extend the lead to 12-0.

 Bottom 2: Charlotte Rutkowski triples off Kayla Rhome, and the Defenders get their first run on the board on a fielders choice by Molly Comstock cutting the lead to 12-1.

 Top 3: Esser adds an insurance run, scoring Brandi Grunza with a 2-out RBI single pushing the advantage back to 12 at 13-1.

 Bottom 3: Lauren Sheppard ropes a 2-out solo home run to the left field for Baptist Bible bringing the score to 13-2.

 Top 4: Five hits and an error lead to Hazleton's third big inning in game 1. Dougherty lengthened the lead with a 2-run single down the left field line and pitcher Kayla Rhome followed in suit with an RBI double. The Lions tacked on two more runs on an error and fielder's choice to cap the inning and hold an 18-2 margin.

 Bottom 5: Facing an early exit in game 1, Baptist Bible rallied with 3 hits in the bottom half. Defense miscues plate 3 runs in the inning, but Hazleton grinds out the third out to end the game 18-5.

 Behind the Box Score: 

• Hazleton's 2 through 8 hitters go a combined 15 for 26 with 17 RBI and 17 runs scored.
• 3 home runs in the game are a season best for the Lady Lions.
• Pitcher Kayla Rhome surrenders minimal damage in 4 innings en route to the win, giving up just 3 hits and striking out 3.
• Hazleton has season highs in hits, runs, and RBI

Game 2: Penn State Hazleton 13, Baptist Bible College 2 (Final 5 Innings)

 Top 2: After manufacturing their first run of the ballgame, Kayla Karchner struck a triple to right centerfield with 2 aboard, clearing the bases and giving the Lady Lions a three run lead. Two batters later, Kaitlyn Kaluzny singled to bring in Karchner and up the score to 4-0.

 Bottom 2: Two singles put the Defenders in scoring position. A ground ball off the bat of Ashley Snare brought in one run on a fielder's choice cutting the score to 4-1 through 2 innings.

 Top 3: Trouble brewed for Baptist Bible as an error setting the table for another big Hazleton inning. Erin Dougherty secured the first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly, and singles from Kayla Rhome and Sara Stuaffer brought in two additional runs. An error by the first baseman allowed a 4th Hazleton run and the Lions stretched their lead  8-1.

 Bottom 3: Two consecutive walks by Kayla Karchner allowed the Defenders to threaten a big inning of their own. One run cam in off the bat of Molly Comstock, but two straight force outs at the plate ended the inning with minimal damage.

 Top 4: Andrea Quillman led off a 3 hit inning for the Lady Lions with a double to center field. A walk to Brandi Grunza and a passed ball put runners at 2nd and 3rd with no outs. Once again, Erin Dougherty lifted a ball to the outfield to score the sacrifice fly, and Kayla Rhome drove in another run on a ground-ball out to the shortstop. With 2 out in the inning, Kayla Karchner singled to score Hazleton's third run of the inning increasing the lead to 11-2.

 Top 5: Hazleton continued to pound the Defender pitching with a single by Kaluzny. Brianna Grunza earned a walk and with no one out in the inning, Andrea Quillman slashed a double to right field to plate the final two runs for the Lions.

 Behind the Box Score:

• Kayla Karchner throws 5 inning complete game, allowing 4 hits, 5 walks, 2 runs and striking out 3.
• Kaitlyn Kaluzny goes 3 for 4 with a run scored and 2 RBI, Kayla Rhome drives in 3 RBI and scores twice going 1 for 3, Andrea Quillman belts 2 doubles, with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored.
• Molly Comstock goes 2 for 2 with an RBI and run scored to lead Baptist Bible College.

Next Up: The Lady Lions head west for Penn State University Athletic Conference play. On Saturday at 2 PM, Hazleton takes on a PSU Beaver team searching for their first win of the season. Sunday the Lady Lions head to PSU Greater Allegheny for a noon double header before returning home.