Seventh inning rally sparks two-game sweep of Fayette

Bloomsburg, Pa. - For the second time in two days, Hazleton was competing on the Cheech and Jelly Field at Bloomsburg Area High School. This time, taking on the Penn State Fayette softball squad in a pair of must win games for the Nittany Lions. Hazleton started off slowly on Saturday but the bats came alive late as Hazleton scored 14 runs in the final sevens innings throughout Saturday's double-header. After trailing 6-2 late in game one, Hazleton bounced back with five runs in the final inning to take game one 7-6 with an exciting finish. They parlayed that win into a 9-6 win in game two, improving their conference record to 5-6 with eight games remaining on the conference schedule. 

Game one: Penn State Fayette 6, Penn State Hazleton 7 - Final

After a 1-1 start through the first two innings, Fayette captured a 4-1 advantage with a three-run, third inning effort on offense. Hazleton was blanked offensively in innings three through five, and continued to fall behind as Fayette picked up two insurance scores in the fifth frame to take a 6-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning. But a well struck ball off the bat of second year player Tiffany Brogan was misplayed by the Fayette outfield in the bottom half of the sixth inning, allowing Brogan to advance to third base. Fourth year player Linsey Fisk followed with an RBI single to plate Brogan and shrink Fayette's lead to 6-2 heading into the final inning. 

In the top of the seventh inning, fourth year Hazleton pitcher Paige Parisi allowed a triple to the lead-off hitter, but did an excellent job to strand the runner at third by retiring the next three hitters. With the game still within reach and momentum shifting, Hazleton went to work in the bottom of the seventh frame. Third year player Athena Matenkoski started off the frame with a double to right center field and was followed by a single from fourth year player Jess Lepore and a walk that loaded the bases for third year player Ashley Wilson. Facing a new pitcher, Wilson cleared the bases with a triple and getting Hazleton to within one score of tying the game. Third year player Tori Rabuck followed with a game tying single to center field, forcing Fayette to go to their third pitcher of the inning. Fayette managed to get two outs in the inning but not without advancing Rabuck to third base, just 60 feet away from ending the game. Parisi, who stranded  Fayette's potential seventh score at third base just 10 minutes earlier, strolled to the plate and promptly singled up the middle, plating Rabuck and closing out an amazing last inning comeback for the Lions. 

Hazleton collected just eight hits in the first six innings of the game, but the five-hit seventh inning proved to be the deciding factor in the Lion's 7-6 victory. Parisi's game winning hit was her third of the ball game, finishing 3-for-4 with an RBI and the fourth year picked up her second win of the season from the circle, throwing seven innings and allowing six runs on thirteen hits. Rabuck and Fisk also collected multiple hits in the win, with Rabuck going 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Fisk finished 2-for-2 with two RBI.

Game two: Penn State Fayette 6, Penn State Hazleton 9 - Final

Like game one, Fayette broke through for the game's first score and this one would see several lead changes throughout the contest. After a Fayette error allowed the Lions to tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning, Fayette struck for two scores in the top of the third inning. But in the bottom of the third inning, Hazleton got singles from first year player Amy Dwojewski and Ashley Wilson, paving the way for a three-run home run by Rabuck, who crushed a line drive over the left field fence to give Hazleton a 4-3 cushion. Fayette responded with a three hit inning in the top of the fifth frame, leading to two scores and a 5-4 lead over Hazleton and kept that lead heading into the sixth inning. But once again, Hazleton was lining up for a big inning. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for the Lions with no outs. Jess Lepore singled to drive in the tying run and an error in the Fayette outfield led to two more scores coming in. A sacrifice fly and an RBI single from Brogan cleaned up the rest of the base runners, allowing Hazleton to score five runs in the sixth inning, taking firm command of the game with a 9-5 lead. Fayette managed a score with a two-out double in the top half of the inning, but Hazleton swiftly picked up the third out to finalize the contest at 9-6 in favor of the Lions. 

Just as in the first game, Hazleton pitcher proved to be the top hitter in the game. This time it was Rabuck who tossed seven solid innings. Rabuck allowed 14 base runners but pitched well with runners aboard, holding Fayette to six scores and striking out four batters. At the dish, Rabuck finished 1-for-4 with four RBI and one scored to lead the team in production. Jess Lepore finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored while Brogan finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI to round out the top hitters for Hazleton. 

Next up: Hazleton will play on Wednesday, April 10 at Northampton Community College in a non-conference double-header beginning at 3:30 p.m.