Penn State DuBois baseball and softball pass the midpoint of their seasons

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DuBOIS, Pa. - With the midpoint of their seasons now officially behind them, the baseball and softball teams at Penn State DuBois both hold winning records and are looking to build further momentum before the championship playoffs begin in the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC). Both teams will see a mix of conference and nonconference games as the season progresses toward the finish line of the regular season.

The Lady Lions began last week by traveling to visit LaRoche College for a nonconference doubleheader on April 7. LaRoche, an NCAA Division III team, proved to be a great midseason challenge.

In the first game of the doubleheader, Kelsey Stuart tossed a complete-game gem to lead Penn State DuBois to a 4-2 victory over La Roche. Stuart, a senior from Warren, scattered seven hits over seven innings, allowing two earned runs while striking out four without issuing a walk. She threw 87 pitches in the win.

The Lady Lions broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning when senior Chelsea Busatto, a DuBois native, singled to drive in the game's first run. DuBois added two more in the fifth, including an RBI single by Leah Aldous and an RBI groundout from Stuart. Busatto finished 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI, while Aldous went 2-for-3 as well. Sienna Barnhart reached base twice, scored a run, and stole a base. Makena Baney also added a hit, a stolen base, and a run scored.

La Roche answered with single runs in the fourth and sixth innings. Ashlee Bair drove in a run in the sixth to keep the Redhawks within reach, but they were unable to capitalize further. Brooke Murgenovich led the offense with a hit and two stolen bases. Maura Wadetook took the loss for La Roche. She allowed nine hits and four runs, two earned, over seven innings while striking out three and walking one.

In game two of the doubleheader, Kynnydy Lewis drove in three runs and Klover Haberthie pitched a complete game as La Roche rolled to a 10-2 win over Penn State DuBois.

Lewis went 2-for-4 with a double, triple and three RBIs to power a 13-hit attack for the Redhawks. Cassidee Fitterer added three hits and two RBIs, while Garrah Milochik drove in two runs and scored once.

Haberthie held DuBois to seven hits and struck out seven over six innings to earn her second win of the season. She did not allow a walk and threw 77 pitches.

DuBois committed five errors in the loss, leading to several unearned runs. Kamryn Mactavish started in the circle and allowed eight runs over 4.1 innings, while Stuart pitched the final inning in relief.

Barnhart and senior Audrey Walker each drove in a run for the Nittany Lions. Barnhart's RBI double in the fourth was followed by a run-scoring single from Walker, briefly cutting the deficit to 3-2 before La Roche broke the game open with six runs in the fifth.

Maura Wade sparked La Roche's offense from the top of the lineup, going 2-for-3 with two runs and two stolen bases. Finley Hohn added two hits and a run, and sophomore Samantha Dixon contributed an RBI single in the sixth.

After the split of two game with LaRoche, Penn State DuBois returned home to Heindl Field to host Penn Highlands Community College on April 9. In the first game of the day, Mactavish hit a three-run homer in the fourth and Walker scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the seventh as DuBois rallied past Penn Highlands, 11-10, in a back-and-forth slugfest.

The Lady Lions overcame a seven-run fourth inning by Penn Highlands and three defensive errors to notch the walk-off win in the opener of the doubleheader. Walker finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored and an RBI, while Mactavish went 2-for-3 with four RBIs, a double and her second home run of the season. Stuart added three hits, including two doubles, and drove in a run.

Trailing 10-9 entering the bottom of the seventh, DuBois tied the game on a sacrifice fly by Natalie Bowser before Walker dashed home on a wild pitch to complete the comeback.

Penn Highlands connected with the ball to achieve 17 hits in the game, including three doubles from Brooke Snyder, who drove in two runs and scored twice. Tara Corradini went 3-for-5 at the plate with two RBIs but took the loss in the circle, surrendering 11 runs, seven earned, on 13 hits over 6.2 innings. Corradini's RBI single in the top of the seventh briefly gave the Black Bears a 10-9 lead before DuBois responded in the bottom half. Errors loomed large for both teams, with Penn Highlands committing five and DuBois three.

Theresa Luongo earned the win in relief for DuBois, pitching the final 3.2 innings and striking out two.

After an exciting first game, Penn State DuBois looked to keep their offense rolling in game two of the doubleheader. In game two, Barnhart and Busatto combined for five hits and five RBIs as DuBois poured in 15 runs over the final three innings to defeat Penn Highlands, 15-7 and complete a sweep of the doubleheader.

The Lady Lions trailed 4-0 after the top of the first but stormed back with six runs in the third, three in the fourth, and six more in the fifth to trigger a run-rule finish in five innings. DuBois racked up 16 hits and stole five bases in the win. Barnhart went 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and three runs scored. Busatto drove in three and scored twice, while Mactavish added a three-run double and scored two runs. Walker chipped in two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Theresa Luongo pitched 4.2 innings to earn the win despite allowing 11 hits and seven runs. Natalie Bowser recorded the final out in relief.

Penn Highlands struck early with a four-run first inning, highlighted by a three-run double from Tori Hillegass. Snyder went 3-for-4 with two stolen bases and three runs scored, while catcher Tori Harrison added three hits and an RBI.

DuBois took the lead for good in the third on Mactavish's bases-clearing double, then piled on in the fifth, scoring six times on five hits and aggressive baserunning.

Sitting on three wins already in the week, Penn State DuBois was scheduled to welcome Kent State Tuscarawas to DuBois on April 12. However, those games were cancelled due to weather and field conditions. Instead, the Lady Lions would have to wait an extra 24 hours to play their next games, welcoming Penn State Fayette to Heindl Field on April 13 for a PSUAC doubleheader.

In the first game of the day, DuBois posted its highest scoring output of the season in a commanding 26-5 win over Fayette. The Lady Lions scored in every inning, highlighted by a 19-run fourth inning that saw 24 batters come to the plate. DuBois collected 15 hits and took advantage of 12 walks and six Fayette errors in the blowout.

Stuart had a monster game at the plate and in the circle, going 3-for-4 with five RBIs and earning the complete game win. Stuart struck out seven, allowed 10 hits, and walked none over five innings of work.

Walker drove in three runs as part of a 2-for-2 effort with three runs scored and three walks. Paige Miller added five RBIs, including a two-run double in the second inning. Aldous chipped in with four RBIs, and Busatto added two hits, two RBIs and three stolen bases.

DuBois trailed 2-0 early but scored 25 unanswered runs over the next three innings. Every starter scored at least once, and eight different players recorded an RBI.

Julie Cooper led Fayette with two hits and two RBIs, while Taryn Stewart and Kylie Stevenson also drove in runs. Stewart took the loss in the circle, allowing 11 runs - seven earned - in 3.1 innings.

After falling in a high-scoring opener, Penn State Fayette responded with a 17-7 victory over Penn State DuBois in game two of their PSUAC doubleheader.

Fayette exploded for 14 hits and scored in three of five innings, including a seven-run second and a five-run fourth, to even the day's series. Liz Murphy led the way offensively, going 3-for-3 with four RBIs, two doubles, and three runs scored. Cooper also contributed two hits and drove in three runs, while Stewart drove in five, including a two-run double in the fourth.

DuBois got off to a strong start with two runs in the bottom of the first, including an RBI single from Baney and an RBI groundout from Stuart. They pulled within five in the third thanks to a five-run frame highlighted by a triple from Mactavish and an RBI double from Jessy Frank. But the Lions were held scoreless over the final two innings.

Cooper pitched all five innings for Fayette, allowing 10 hits and five earned runs with one strikeout to earn the win.

Luongo took the loss for DuBois, allowing 12 earned runs on 10 hits and seven walks over 2.2 innings. Natalie Bowser and Stuart pitched in relief.

Frank, Busatto, and Stuart each collected multiple hits for DuBois, which recorded 10 hits as a team.

Penn State DuBois softball finished the week with a 4-2 record and now sits at 12-7 overall for the season.

On the baseball diamond, the Nittany Lions also began the week by challenging LaRoche College in a doubleheader that was played at Showers Field in DuBois on April 9. DuBois walked away with a doubleheader split against LaRoche, taking the opener 5-4 before falling in the nightcap, 18-3.

In Game 1, the Lions overcame a late-game rally from LaRoche and walked it off in the bottom of the seventh. Junior Grant Lillard scored the game-winning run on a defensive miscue in right field. Lillard was a force at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI, and three runs scored.

Bryce Dobson delivered clutch hits throughout the game, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a stolen base. Alex Gavlock added an RBI, while Colby Bodtorf scored once and swiped a bag of his own.

Joe Tettis earned the win on the mound, closing out the seventh with a scoreless frame. The bullpen was busy for DuBois, with seven pitchers seeing action and combining for eight strikeouts while allowing just six hits.

La Roche tied the game in the sixth with a two-run rally highlighted by an RBI double from Logan Bielaw, but Penn State DuBois capitalized on an error in the final inning to seal the win.

Game two told a different story. La Roche erupted for 18 runs on 16 hits, capitalizing on five DuBois errors to cruise to an 18-3 victory.

Aaron Miller launched a solo home run for DuBois in the second inning and finished 2-for-4. Freshman Tanner Kephart added a two-run double in the same frame, but the Lions' offense stalled the rest of the way.

La Roche's offense was relentless, posting multi-run innings in five of seven frames. Second baseman Aidan Sopata led the Redhawks with three hits, including a triple, and drove in three runs. Teammates Tommy Smith and Dylan McCaffrey each chipped in with multi-RBI efforts.

Pitching struggles plagued DuBois early in game two, with La Roche scoring nine runs in the first three innings. Jake Sikora took the loss, and Wyatt Coakley allowed five runs without recording an out.

After the doubleheader split with LaRoche, Penn State DuBois traveled to visit Penn State Greater Allegheny on April 12. DuBois completed a sweep on the day, taking game one in dominant fashion, 13-5, before rallying for a 4-3 comeback win in game two.

In the opener, DuBois exploded for 11 runs over the first two innings and never looked back. Sikora and Miller each drove in four runs, with Sikora delivering a three-run double in the second and Miller adding a bases-clearing double in the first. Bodtorf and Kyle Elensky each had three hits to pace the 13-hit attack.

Taylor Boland earned the win on the mound, tossing six innings and striking out four despite giving up five runs on 11 hits. Austin Mitchell closed out the game with a scoreless seventh. DuBois turned three double plays and committed no errors in the field.

Greater Allegheny managed 13 hits but left 10 runners on base. Matt Bisceglia drove in two runs, while Duston Strom and Dean Sewall each added RBIs.

In game two, DuBois rallied from an early 3-0 deficit, thanks in part to a two-run home run by Isaac Tiracorda in the fifth inning. Grant Lillard added an RBI single, and Elensky scored twice in the win.

Zach Tiracorda was dominant on the mound, going the distance in a complete-game effort. He struck out nine and allowed just five hits.

The home and home series between DuBois and Greater Allegheny would wrap up the next day at Showers Field on April 13. Penn State DuBois completed a four-game sweep, beating Penn State Greater Allegheny 4-2 in the first game, and 8-1 in the second game.

In game one, Connor Cherry went the distance on the mound for DuBois, tossing a complete game and allowing just two earned runs while striking out six. Greater Allegheny got on the board early in the first inning, but DuBois quickly answered with two runs in the bottom half, including an RBI single from Lillard.

Isaac Tiracorda and Sikora also drove in runs for the Nittany Lions, with Tiracorda finishing the game 3-for-3 at the plate. Cherry scattered five hits over seven innings, needing just 98 pitches to secure the win and move to 1-0 on the season.

Game two saw DuBois break the game wide open with a six-run sixth inning. Zach Witherow earned the win on the mound, going 5.1 innings and giving up just one run on three hits. Tettis closed out the final 1.2 innings in relief without allowing a hit.

Cole Bloom and Lillard each contributed sacrifice flies in the early innings, while Braylen Corter, Nick Cagliola, and Elensky added RBI singles during the big sixth inning. Elensky also doubled and scored twice.

The DuBois defense played error-free baseball across both games, turning multiple double plays and backing up a strong day on the mound from both Cherry and Witherow.

The Nittany Lions finished the week with a 5-1 record and now hold an 18-5 record for the season.

In the week ahead, Penn State DuBois softball will return to Heindl Field on April 15 when they host Penn State Schuylkill for a PSUAC doubleheader. Game one of this doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. The Lady Lions will return to their home field on April 18 when they host another PSUAC doubleheader when Penn State Mont Alto visits DuBois. First pitch for game one against Mont Alto is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Penn State DuBois baseball will begin their week on April 15 when they host Clarion University, and NCAA division II team, at Showers Field for a single game at 6 p.m. The Nittany Lions will then travel to face Penn State Shenango on April 17 for a rescheduled game that was postponed earlier in the season due to weather. This single game is set to begin at noon. Then, Penn State DuBois and Penn State Fayette will face off in a home and home series on April 18 and April 19. The teams will play at Fayette on April 18, with the first game of the doubleheader scheduled to begin on 2 p.m. Another doubleheader will be played at Showers Field on April 19, with the first game on this date beginning at noon.

For complete athletic schedules, including any weather-related changes, visit the Penn State DuBois athletic website.