Lions split non-conference bout with Cairn

Drums, Pa. - The Hazleton Nittany Lion softball squad picked up their second win of the season on Monday, earning a split in a home double-header against Cairn University. Hazleton rallied late in game on but was unable to complete the comeback after trailing 9-0 in the contest. The Lions went on to lose 10-6 to Cairn in the series opener but raced out to 7-0 advantage in game two, hanging on for the win until the game was called due to diminishing sunlight with the score 7-2.

Game one: Cairn University 10, Penn State Hazleton 6 - Final

A couple of free passes came back to haunt the Hazleton squad in the early phases of game walk. Cairn used two walks and two hits to plate three first inning runs and broke away from the Lions in the second frame. There Cairn notched five hits and took advantage of three Hazleton errors in the field to tally six scores on their way to a commanding 9-0 lead. Hazleton managed just four hits off Cairn pitching through the first four innings of play but the offense came to life in the bottom of the fifth frame as the Lions sent 11 batters to the plate. A free pass to start the inning was followed by three straight doubles from four year player Jess Lepore, first year player Amy Dwojeski and third year player Ashley Wilson. Cairn was able to cut down one score at the plate, but Hazleton continued to put the ball in the play, putting pressure on the Cairn defense to push six scores on the board and get within three tallies of tying the game. 

After the big fifth inning, Hazleton went out on defense and shut down the Cairn squad at the plate, but as fast as the Hazleton bats heated up, the Lions were stymied for the remainder of the game. Cairn tacked on an insurance score in the top of the seventh inning and stranded two Nittany Lions on base in the bottom half of the inning to secure the win. Ashley Wilson and fourth year player Linsey Fisk led the Hazleton squad with two hits each with first year player Trinity Shaver-Cooper driving in two runs to lead the team offensively. Fourth year hurler Third year player Tori Rabuck pitched well in relief for Hazleton, throwing five strong innings, allowing one unearned run on one hit. 

Game two: Cairn University 2, Penn State Hazleton 7 - Final, 5 innings (Called for darkness) 

Second year pitcher Tiffany Brogan took to the circle in game two for the Lions and produced one of her best outings of the season. Brogan swept through the first frame with relative ease and got in on the action for the Nittany Lion offense in the bottom half of the inning. There, Hazleton produced two hits to lead off the inning allowing Wilson to cash in the game's opening score and two batters later, Brogan drove in Wilson from third base on a single up the middle to put Hazleton up 2-0. Hazleton tacked on five scores two innings later to take a commanding 7-0 lead in game two with Linsey Fisk, Trinity Shaver-Cooper and Jess Lepore enflicting the damage. Brogan cruised through the middle innings, allowing just two total base runners in the second, third and fourth frames. Cairn started a rally in fifth inning, but with the sun setting quickly, play was halted by the umpiring staff, leading to the shortened game and a Hazleton victory. 

Lepore, Dwojeski, Brogan and second year player Rachael Gerfin all produced two hits in a game where Hazleton totaled 12 knocks in just four trips on offense. Brogan finished the game throwing 4.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits with two strikeouts in her second victory of the season. 

Next up: Hazleton heads west later this week with the Lions traveling for a double-header on Thursday at Penn State Beaver, followed by a Friday double-header at Penn State New Kensington.