Scranton Lady Lions Softball Drops Slugfest to Clarks Summit

By: Ross Turetsky, Penn State Scranton Athletics

On a chilly Friday afternoon in the electric city, the Penn State Scranton softball team fell just short in an exciting 14-12 seven inning home slugfest against local non-conference foe the Clarks Summit University Defenders, before game two was halted due to darkness in the third inning of the planned doubleheader. With the narrow defeat, Scranton sees their overall record move to 3-6 and their all-important league mark stays at 0-2 on the young season.

The Scranton Lady Lions jumped out to an early 12-6 advantage after the first four innings of play, as they scored two runs in the bottom half of the second inning, a whopping seven more in the third, and three times in the fourth to take their big lead. However, the Defenders of Clarks Summit would come storming back, scoring a trio of runs in the top of the fifth inning, four in the sixth to seize the lead, and one big insurance run in the seventh and final frame to clinch their thrilling two run road triumph. The Lions were held scoreless by the Defenders in the final three innings of the contest. Overall, Clarks Summit out hit Scranton by a 16-7 margin in the ball game.

The stand-out star for Scranton's offense was sophomore Olivia Shimonis who led the way with her team-high three hits, going 3-4 at the plate, walked once, scored a run, and had a game-high seven RBI, highlighted by her huge grand slam home run in the bottom of the third inning that gave her squad a 9-4 advantage at the time. The other four hits for the Lions came from freshman center fielder Sara McNichols, junior shortstop Kathryn Lahey, sophomore catcher Ashlyn McNally, and freshman third baseman Rachel Murray who each had a hit apiece. Scranton also reached base via the walk a robust 12 times and besides Shimonis' awe-inspiring seven RBI, had two RBI from McNichols and a RBI apiece from senior right fielder Kelly Velehoski and Murray.

As for Clarks Summit's offense, they had a well-balanced attack where five of their players had stellar multi-hit performances, as junior shortstop Rebecca Serfass, sophomore center fielder Julianna Baker, senior Katlyn McLeod, junior Davi Ort, and fellow junior Mia McCormick set the pace for their team. Serfass had a game-high four hits, going 4-5 at the dish, with a double, a triple, a stolen base, scored four times, and knocked in four runs as well. Baker was 3-5, with a run scored, two RBI, and a stolen base to boot. McLeod went 3-4 at the plate, scoring a run, and had an RBI. Ort was 2-5, both hits being doubles, scoring twice, and knocking in a run. Last but certainly not least, McCormick also went 2-5, with a run scored, had two RBI, and grabbed a stolen base for good measure.

On the pitching side of things, Shimonis started on the mound for Scranton and went the distance in the close loss, tossing all seven innings for her club, allowing seven earned runs, walked only one, and fanned five Clarks Summit batters on the day. Meanwhile, Clarks Summit started junior hurler Ashley Velasquez on the bump and she earned the win throwing five innings, giving up 10 earned runs, 12 walks, seven hits, and struck out a whopping 10 Scranton hitters in the contest. Lastly, freshman Maddison Atkins picked up the save for the Defenders, throwing two shutout innings in relief, without surrendering any hits or walks, and struck out a trio of Lions batters in her appearance.

Now veteran head coach Mar Tsakonas and her 3-6 Penn State Scranton softball squad will look to bounce back and snap their mini three game losing skid when they next host non-conference foe the University of Valley Forge Patriots in a doubleheader this upcoming Tuesday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 3pm. Meanwhile, the 2-7 Clarks Summit University Defenders, who with their victory over Scranton snapped a long seven game losing streak, will look to win their second straight game when they go on the road to New Jersey to battle Centenary University for a big doubleheader this Tuesday starting at 3pm.