Softball sweeps Fayette and secures playoff spot

NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. – New Kensington softball earned itself a spot in the playoffs after sweeping Penn State Fayette in a double header on Sunday, 9-0 and 12-1. The victories improve New Kensington's rank to 11-11 in the conference and 12-12 overall as its regular season comes to a close.

Game 1

The first inning began slow for both teams, but New Kensington sent home its first player in the bottom of the second.

Abby Kane (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) walked and rounded the bases to third off of an error, while Courtney Biswick (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) made it to first on the error. Off a passed ball, Kane scored, and New Kensington was ahead, 1-0, moving into the third.

Fayette quickly faced three outs during the inning, but New Kensington managed to run in five players.

Ally Albert (Cabot, Pa./Knoch) batted first and singled. She headed to second off a New Kensington out, and a Lauren Torgent (Tarentum, Pa./Highlands) single sent her to third. Torgent was able to advance to second on a passed ball. Courtesy of a Riplee Burkhart (Verona, Pa./Penn Hills) single, Albert scored and Torgent progressed to third. Off a fly out, Torgent was second to run home. Burkhart managed to steal second and advance to third on an error which also allowed Kane to reach first. Biswick earned two RBI from a double that sent both Burkhart and Kane home. Biswick was soon on third ready to run home, and a single from Tori Young (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler Area) allowed her to. New Kensington was up, 6-0, at the bottom of the third.

Fayette remained with no runs again in the fourth inning.

During the bottom of the fourth for New Kensington, Albert singled and advanced to third off of two wild pitches. Torgent was second on base from a single, and a Burkhart single made way for Albert to score. Torgent was right behind off a Natalie Heltebran (Irwin, Pa./Hempfield) double. New Kensington was now leading, 9-0, with the remainder of the final fifth inning to go.

Three outs in a row for Fayette allowed New Kensington to hold it to 9-0.

Albert, Burkhart, and Torgent led with two hits apiece. Heltebran was the forefront for RBI with three, while Biswick and Burkhart each had two. Heltebran and Biswick also doubled. Calle Zmenkowski (Cheswick, Pa./Fox Chapel), pitcher, struck out five.

Game 2

In the bottom of the first, New Kensington was in command of the game. Zmenkowski reached first and headed to second when Torgent singled. Both players stole the next base, and Zmenkowski was sent home on a fly out. Torgent scored right after off a Heltebran single. Heading into the second, New Kensington was leading, 2-0.

Fayette had one hit during the inning, but two quick outs soon after didn't allow for any plays.

New Kensington got itself four hits and sent four players home during the bottom of the second. Andrea Eiler (Eau Claire, Pa./Moniteau) singled to left field and quickly scored off a Zmenkowski double. Zmenkowski was also able to score after Burkhart singled. Heltebran batted sixth and homered. This sent herself and Burkhart home. At the end of the inning, New Kensington was still ahead, 6-0.

Fayette saw its first run of the game in the top of the fourth, but it was still down, 6-1, with the bottom of the inning to play for New Kensington.

Eiler started things off by walking and stealing second. She soon progressed to third off a ground out, and a Torgent single let her run home. Burkhart was able to double while at bat and advanced Torgent to third. Bases became loaded when Heltebran walked. With a Molly Collins (Verona, Pa./Riverview) single to left field, Torgent scored. Burkhart was also able to score when Kane walked. Three more players for New Kensington were able to cross home off a Young double.

Only the fifth inning remained for Fayette to make a comeback, but it was unable to, and New Kensington had them beat, 12-1.

Torgent, Burkhart, and Heltebran each hit two and ran in two. Heltebran also led with three RBI along with Young.

New Kensington will play in the first round of PSUAC playoffs on Saturday, May 1 against Penn State Beaver. First pitch is at 2 p.m.

Written by Janet Surma