DuBOIS, Pa. — The baseball and softball teams at Penn State DuBois both had a busy week of action, including the home opener for the Nittany Lions and Lady Lions. With the spring season now in full swing, games are coming fast and frequent for both teams.
On the softball diamond, the Lady Lions welcomed Saint Vincent College to open the home portion of the schedule, playing a doubleheader on March 12. In game one, DuBois faced a tough loss on its home turf as Saint Vincent secured a 7-2 victory.
Despite a valiant effort from the Lady Lions, they struggled to contain Saint Vincent's offensive prowess throughout the game. Kelsey Stuart took the mound for Penn State DuBois but faced a challenging outing, giving up seven runs on seven hits over 3.1 innings. Aleigha Geer stepped in to relieve Stuart, allowing three additional runs over 3.1 innings.
DuBois did showcase some bright spots, with Stuart showing resilience in the circle, striking out five batters. Makena Baney contributed a hit and scored a run, while Natalie Bowser also tallied a hit for the team. Despite the team's efforts, DuBois couldn't overcome Saint Vincent's strong pitching and defense.
In game two, a hard-fought battle at Heindl Field, Saint Vincent emerged victorious with a 7-5 win over DuBois.
Despite the loss, the Lady Lions showcased resilience and determination throughout the game. Bowser led the offensive charge for DuBois, going 3-for-3 with a double and driving in two runs. Morgan Wolf and Paige Pleta also contributed with crucial hits, each tallying an RBI.
On the mound, Megan Hyde and Geer shared pitching duties for DuBois. Hyde started the game, facing a tough Saint Vincent lineup, while Geer entered in relief and battled through the remaining innings.
However, Saint Vincent's offense proved to be too much to handle for the Lady Lions. Mackenzie Favero led the charge for Saint Vincent, going 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored. Olivia Persin and Alyssa Henderson also made significant contributions, each recording multiple hits and RBIs.
Despite DuBois' efforts to mount a comeback, Saint Vincent held on to secure the victory.
After the two losses to Saint Vincent, Penn State DuBois looked to get back on the winning track the next day when the team welcomed Central Maine Community College for a doubleheader at Heindl Field. In game one, DuBois showcased an impressive offensive display to secure a dominant 13-6 win over Central Maine.
The Lady Lions got off to a strong start, with Bowser once again leading the charge with an outstanding performance, going 4-for-5 at the plate with a double and four RBIs. Pleta also contributed significantly, tallying two hits including a double and driving in one run.
Pitcher Kelsey Stuart delivered a solid performance on the mound for DuBois, going the distance and allowing only six runs on 10 hits while striking out eight batters.
Despite a valiant effort from Central Maine, the squad's pitching struggled to contain the Lady Lions’ relentless offensive onslaught. Olivia Scott started the game for Central Maine, but faced difficulties, giving up 11 runs on 12 hits over 3.1 innings. Lauryn Wood came in for relief but couldn't stifle DuBois' bats.
In game two of the day, DuBois displayed a dominant performance on its home turf, securing an impressive 17-2 victory over Central Maine in a one-sided affair.
The Lady Lions again wasted no time asserting their dominance, scoring seven runs in the second inning to take a commanding lead. The offensive onslaught was led by Bowser, who went 1-for-2 at the plate with a double and two RBIs, and Caitlyn Watson, who contributed with two doubles and an RBI.
Geer delivered a solid performance in the circle for DuBois, allowing only two runs on six hits over five innings while striking out one batter. Geer's strong pitching combined with DuBois' relentless offense proved to be too much for Central Maine to handle.
Central Maine struggled to contain the Lady Lions’ explosive lineup, with pitcher Brooke Gero enduring a tough outing, failing to record an out and allowing seven runs before being relieved.
With two convincing wins on the day, the Lady Lions showed strong performances, demonstrating their offensive prowess and solid pitching. They'll aim to carry this momentum into their future matchups as they look to maintain their winning streak.