New Kensington Returns to The Win Column After Incredible Day

DUNMORE, Pa. - New Kensington softball dominated both games of their doubleheader at Penn State Scranton Friday afternoon to return to the win column after their strongest performance of the year. 

New Kensington headed to the opposite end of the state to find their groove early, having an outstanding series of opening innings. It began in the first with four runs. They would produce their most explosive inning in the second, running across 13 times. 

The women managed three more runs in the third to take the comfortable 20-0 lead. Scranton would run across for two runs in the third. The women contributed another four runs in the fourth before Scranton put up two runs in the fifth to bring the score to 24-4 going into the final frame. The women would hold on for the dominant 24-4 win.

The women sustained their excellent gameplay in game two, producing nine runs in the first, followed by five more in the second. New Kensington scored again in the third, running across three times. They would hold Scranton to no runs in the second game to finish the day victorious, 17-0. 

Game 1

Marissa Bruns (Gibsonburg, Ohio / Gibsonburg) got the start for New Kensington, throwing two innings and giving up no runs or hits. She walked two, striking out five. Bruns was replaced by Illeana Ramirez (Locke, N.Y. / Moravia Central) who threw three innings letting up four runs on eight hits. Ramirez struck out seven batters. 

New Kensington took command of the game in the top of the first on a Marissa Bruns single to bring in Illeana Ramirez. Molly Collins (Verona, Pa. / Riverview) then reached on an error by shortstop for Bruns to come home. Taylor Hill (Milford, Pa. / Deleware Valley) singled for a 2 RBI that would bring in Abby Kane (Murrysville, Pa. / Franklin Regional) and Molly Collins to finish the top of the frame up 4-0.

The biggest inning of the game came off of a Lianna Gonzalez (New York, N.Y. / Manhattan Hunter Science) triple that brought in Courtney Biswick (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Hills). Ramirez would ground out to third base for Gonzalez to score. 

Elliott Ferrent (Punxsutawney, Pa. / Punxsutawney) doubled for Bruns to come across the plate. Collins reached first on an error by third base for Ferrent to come home. Hill then lined out to shortstop for Collins to score. Ashley Encarnacion (New York, N.Y. / Women's Academy of Excellence) also reached first on an error for Kane to score the tenth run of the game. 

Gonzalez tripled for the 2 RBI that put the women at 12 total runs. Andrea Eiler (Eau Claire, Pa. / Moniteau) doubled an RBI for 13, Bruns singled an RBI for 14, and Ferrent doubled another RBI for 15. The scoring continued off of a Collins double followed by a Kane single for New Kensington to end the frame leading by 17. 

One inning later, a Ramirez single would bring in Ashley Encarnacion before a Bruns single would bring in Gonzalez. Ramirez would score to finish the top of the frame, New Kensington now leading 20-0. Scranton finally produced a run in the bottom of the third followed by another on a wild pitch. 

The women started the fourth on a Bruns walk that would drive in Biswick. Ferrent singled to advance runners into scoring position while bringing in Gonzalez. Collins singled a RBI for Eiler to score. Kane singled to take New Kensington's lead to 24. 

Penn State Scranton would bring in two more runs before the game's end, New Kensington finishing with their best performance of the season, 24-4. 

Game 2

Marissa Bruns started in the circle for New Kensington in game two. She threw two innings allowing two hits and no runs. Bruns walked one, striking out two. Andrea Eiler entered the game letting up only one hit, walking one, striking out two. Illeana Ramirez closed for New Kensington throwing one inning, striking out two. 

The big-time scoring got underway when Elliott Ferrent reached first on an error by shortstop for the RBI that brought in Eiler. With runners in position, Molly Collins was walked to drive in Lianna Gonzalez. The women maintained runners in scoring position, allowing Abby Kane to reach first on an error by third base to bring Bruns home. 

Still in the top of the first, Ashley Encarnacion singled an RBI for Molly Collins to score. Illeana Ramirez grounded out to second base, driving in Kane. Taylor Hill would score on a wild pitch while advancing Encarnacion to third. 

Gonzalez capitalized with a double that drove in Encarnacion. Bruns followed up with a single that would bring in Gonzalez to finish the frame leading 9-0. In the top of the second, runners advanced on a wild pitch, scoring Kane. Gonzalez reached first on an error by center field with bases loaded, allowing Hill to score. A Bruns sacrifice fly brought in Encarnacion before a Collins single 2 RBI would extend New Kensington's lead to 14.

Encarnacion singled in the top of the third for an RBI, bringing in Hill. The final runs of the game came off of a Gonzalez single 2 RBI for Ramirez and Encarnacion to cross the plate. New Kensington finished the day with an impressive combination of offensive and defensive efforts for the 17-0 win. 

The women will remain in the east to take on Penn State Hazleton tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.

Written by Matt Heavner, PSNK Athletics Communications Intern