Hazleton tops Broncos with two-game road sweep

Delhi, Ny. - Playing in their final non-conference action of the regular season, the Lady Lions rallied in the late stages of game one with SUNY-Delhi on Saturday and carried that momentum into game two, taking the road double-header by scores of 7-5 and 14-6. 

Game 1: Penn State Hazleton 7, SUNY-Delhi 5

Hazleton fell behind after a four-run fourth inning by the Broncos but retook the lead with three runs in their fifth at bat, followed by a single insurance tally in the sixth inning. After the crooked inning the fourth, sophomore Samantha Varela (Hazleton, Pa.) settled in in the circle, blanking the Broncos in the final three at bats to pick up her ninth win of the season by the score of 7-5.

Top Performers

Yuka Matsumota went 2-for-4 with a game high three RBI for the Broncos. Sarah Yambor and Sierra Becht added SUNY-Delhi's other two scores with runs driven in while Samiaya Salley finished 2-for-4.

Freshman Jerrika Chorba (Bloomsburg, Pa.) set the tone in the lead off spot for Hazleton notching three hits and three runs scored. Senior Tina Beiland (Philadelphia, Pa.) registered three hits and a run scored while freshman Erin Schmick (Macungie, Pa.) delivered three RBI's in a perfect 2-for-2 effort at the plate.

Varela allowed four earned runs in the complete game win, giving up nine hits and four walks while striking out seven Broncos. 

Game 2: Penn State Hazleton 14, SUNY Delhi 6 (Final, 5 Innings)

The Lady Lions picked up right where they left off as game two began, batting around in their first at-bat to take a 6-0 lead over the Broncos. Hazleton would go on to post big innings in the third and fifth frames as seven Lady Lions combined to out-hit SUNY-Delhi 14-8 as they cruised to an eight-run rule victory in five innings.

Game 2 Top Performers

Sophomore Vanessa Michael (Bloomsburg, Pa.) led Hazleton with a 3-for-4 game, picking up three RBI and two runs scored. Varela matched Michael's three hits with an RBI and two runs scored while Chorba, Schmick and sophomore Noelle Bergerstock (Muncy, Pa.) each added multi-hit efforts. Freshman Sarah Coolbaugh (Harding, Pa.) ended the game 1-for-3 but led the squad with three RBI in the victory. 

Freshman Mary Kate Penczkowski (Hanover, Pa.) turned in a winning performance in game two for the Lady Lions, allowing six runs on eight hits with three strikeouts in the complete game effort for her seventh win of 2017.

Liana Garry served up a game high four RBI for the Broncos, ending the game 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles. Sarah Yambor added two runs scored while going 2-for-2 at the dish to round out SUNY-Delhi's top offensive performances.

Next Up

Hazleton wraps up the regular season on Tuesday, April 25 when they take on Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Hazleton will host Wilkes-Barre's home contests at the Drifton Softball complex with the double-header kicking off at 5:00 p.m.