Penn State New Kensington Storms Back for Thrilling 14–9 Win Over Mont Alto

Penn State New Kensington Storms Back for Thrilling 14–9 Win Over Mont Alto

Mont Alto, Pa. – A seven-run seventh inning capped off a dramatic comeback as Penn State New Kensington powered past Penn State Mont Alto, 13–9, in a high-scoring battle on Friday afternoon.

The Lions found themselves trailing 9–6 heading into the final frame, but a relentless offensive push flipped the script. With the bases loaded and one out, Jaiden Patterson lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Piper Zufall to tie the game at 9–9. From there, Olivia Waldrop delivered the go-ahead blow with a two-run single to center, followed by a two-run double from Linda Shepard, sealing the comeback and giving New Kensington its 13th and 14th runs.

Shepard also earned the win in the circle, tossing 4.1 innings and striking out five, while allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits. Brookelyn Kotch came on in relief and held Mont Alto to one run across the final 2.2 innings, picking up a crucial save.

The game began with early fireworks, including a three-run double by Mont Alto's Hailey Spielman in the first inning. However, New Kensington steadily clawed back. In the third, Shepard blasted a two-run homer, her team-leading long ball of the season, to give New Kensington a 4–3 edge.

Mont Alto responded with four runs in the fifth, highlighted by Lauren Allison's bases-clearing triple, but the Lions refused to back down. New Kensington put up three in the sixth and then exploded in the seventh to take control.

Shai Moore turned in a stellar day at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Antonia Velasquez added three hits and crossed the plate twice, while Waldrop finished with two hits and three RBIs.

Penn State New Kensington Stats

Batting

• Hits: 16 (Moore 4, Velasquez 3, Waldrop 2, Shepard 2, Ferriola 2, Barnett, Zufall, Patterson)

• Runs: 14

• RBIs: Shepard (4), Waldrop (3), Moore (2), Ferriola (1), Kotch (1), Patterson (1)

• Doubles: Barnett, Velasquez

• Home Runs: Shepard

• Sacrifice Flies: Waldrop, Patterson

• Walks: 5

• Strikeouts: 1

Baserunning

• Stolen Bases: Ferriola (2)

• Caught Stealing: Johnson

Pitching

• Linda Shepard (W, 5–3) – 4.1 IP, 10 H, 8 R (7 ER), 1 BB, 5 SO

• Brookelyn Kotch – 2.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO, 1 HR

Fielding

• Error: Patterson

The win boosts New Kensington's momentum heading into the final stretch of the season as they continue their push in PSUAC conference play.