Softball unable to generate offense against Penn State New Kensington

MUNHALL, Pa. --- Carlow University softball lost a USCAA doubleheader to Penn State New Kensington at West Field Friday night.

The Lions (7-3) two-hit Carlow in the first game and held the Celtics scoreless in the nightcap.

Game 1: L, 7-1

Pitcher Linda Shepard two-hit the Celtics through seven innings to lead the Lions to victory in the first game. The only run New Kensington allowed Carlow was unearned in the top of the seventh, and Shepard recorded two strikeouts and two walks in the complete game effort.

The Lions scored at least one run in every inning except the sixth, led by Kali Barnett who hit 3 for 4 with an RBI. Antonia Velasquez went 2 for 3 with a double and two RBI.

Cailyn Lucas (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills HS) was saddled with the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits with a walk in three innings of work. Gianna Ferrieri (South Park, Pa./Seton LaSalle Catholic HS) pitched the remainder of the game, allowing one earned run on two hits with a walk.

Game 2: L, 4-0

The Lions held Carlow scoreless in the nightcap.

New Kensington put runs on the board in the bottom of the second. A one-out single and a double put runners on the corners, and a single through the left side brought them both home.

Pitcher Tatum Wiggs (Boron, Calif./Boron HS) and the Celtics retired the Lions in order in the bottom of the third and fourth before back-to-back two-out singles put New Kensington up 3-0 in the fifth.

The Lions added an insurance run with a single and a one-out RBI ground out in the sixth, and retired Carlow in order in the top of the seventh to end the game.

Wiggs suffered the loss, allowing four earned runs on seven hits with a strikeout.

Olivia Waldrop earned the win in the circle with one walk and two strikeouts in the complete game effort. Piper Zufall went 2 for 3 with a double, and Natalia Rivera Jimenez tallied two RBI.

Carlow hosts Penn State Beaver March 29 for a noon doubleheader at West Mifflin High School.