Softball surges in game two to capture post-season berth

Drums, Pa. - Following a tough pair of losses to Mont Alto on Friday, the Hazleton softball team still found themselves one win shy of a berth in the postseason. Their main competition...a Penn State DuBois squad needing two wins over Hazleton to bounce the Lions from contention and stamp their ticket to the playoffs. Saturday's match ups between Hazleton and DuBois went down to the wire with DuBois capturing game one on a two-out, two run home run in the seventh inning. But Hazleton wasn't resigned to defeat and the Lions roared back in game two to win a wild and windy back and forth series finale. It took a late home run by third year player Ashley Wilson and a gutsy pitching performance from fourth year hurler Paige Parisi, but Hazleton emerged victorious by the score of 9-8, earning the sixth spot in the PSUAC softball playoffs. 

Game One: Penn State DuBois 3, Penn State Hazleton 1 - Final

Game one was very much a pitcher's duel with Hazleton's Paige Parisi and DuBois's Megan Hyde mowing through the respective line ups. DuBois struck first for the game's first run in the top of the fourth inning when a lead off single game back to huant Parisi and the Lions. After the single, Parisi retired the next two hitters, but in doing so, DuBois was able to advance the runner to scoring position and with two outs in the frame, DuBois's Audrey Walker singled to center field to break the stalemate. Hazleton would limit the damage to one run and in the bottom half of the inning, responded in kind. There it was back to back base hits, a double from Ashley Wilson to lead off the frame, followed by an RBI single from fourth year player Linsey Fisk to knot the score at 1-1. Like Hazleton half an inning earlier, DuBois managed to limit the damage and both squad remained locked at 1-1 until the seventh inning. With the pressure mounting on both teams, DuBois threatened to take the lead with a lead off single in the top of the seventh. A stolen base and a sacrifice bunt put the go ahead run at third base with one out but Parisi and the defense held the runner on a ground ball to third, registering the second out in the process. Just one out away from escaping the inning, Parisi dealt to DuBois's Caitlyn Watson who was 0-for-3 at the time. But Watson would connect, driving a fly ball over the left field fence, notching two scores to give DuBois a 3-1 advantage. Hazleton was unable to rally following the home run by Watson as Hyde retired the side in order to give DuBois a 3-1 win and momentum heading into the penultimate game. 

Both teams registered just six hits each in the game. Leading the stat column for Hazleton was Fisk who went 2-for-3 with an RBI with Wilson, third year player Athena Matenkoski and first year player Trinity Shaver-Cooper going 1-for-3 in the loss. Parisi pitched well in defeat but ended the game allowing three runs on six hits and one walk while striking out three batters. 

Game Two: Penn State DuBois 8, Penn State Hazleton 9 - Final

During intermission, Hazleton took the opportunity to recognize their departing players including fourth year team members Jess Lepore, Paige Parisi and Linsey Fisk in addition to third year player Tori Rabuck. Following the recognition, Hazleton looked ready to take on the challenge and facing elimination, the Lions responded with a an outpouring of offense in game two. Hazleton and DuBois traded single scores in the bottom of the first and the top of the second inning, but the Lions pushed three scores across in the bottom of the second to take early command of the game. Back to back doubles from Shaver and Matenkoski got the scoring started and Wilson and Fisk cleaned up the rest as Hazleton collected three runs on four hits to take a 4-1 lead. Hazleton would maintain that cushion until the top of the fifth inning when DuBois bounced back to take the lead. A pair of two-run home runs off Parisi erased the lead and left Hazleton chasing 5-4 but the Lions weren't done year. After falling behind, Hazleton retaliated with four runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth. An RBI single by second year player Tiffany Brogan tied the game and two batters later, Matenkoski drove in Brogan to put Hazleton up 6-5. An RBI single off the bat of Lepore drove in the Lion's third score of the inning, and some creative base running by Lepore helped plate Matenkoski for Hazleton's fourth score of the critical inning. 

After a clean sixth inning from Parisi and the defense, Hazleton looked to finish off the DuBois squad needing just three outs to advance to the playoffs. The Lions got exactly that when Ashley Wilson led off the bottom of the sixth with a towering fly ball over the left field fence. The Lions would go down in order after the blast, but they got their insurance run. They would need it. DuBois came out determined in the top of the seventh inning. Parisi, who had been battling injury all day, continued to give her teammates all she had, but DuBois was unwilling to go quietly. Back to back doubles led off the inning and a two throws from the circle, found the backstop, allowing DuBois to cut the lead to just two scores. Parisi would induce an infield pop up to secure the first out of the inning, but back to back hits followed leaving runners at the corners with one out. DuBois's Alison Lininger hit a fly ball to right field, scoring the runner from third but left no room for error with Hazleton needing just one out to close out the game. Parisi dug deep into the tank and delivered a game ending pitch, popping up the DuBois batter as first year player Amy Dwojewski squeezed her mit to end the ball game with Hazleton on to 9-8. 

It may not show up in the box score, but Parisi's effort from the circle was one of her best of the season under the circumstances. Parisi earned her fifth win of the year, throwing all seven innings (14 innings total for the day) and allowing eight runs on 12 hits with two strikeouts. Her effort was just enough for the Hazleton hitters to complete the rest of the job as Hazleton notched 12 hits of their own in the game. Leading the way was Wilson and Matenkoski who both collected two hits, two RBI and two runs scored, with Wilson's home run proving to be the difference in the game. Brogan and Fisk finished the game 1-for-3 with an RBI. First year players Kat Rapp and Shaver-Cooper chipped in big hits in the game as while along with Lepore and Dwojewski who collected one hit each to round out the top efforts on offense. 

Next up: Hazleton completes the regular season journey with a win that earns them a spot in the post season with a 9-9 conference record. The Lions will travel to Penn State Mont Alto on Friday for a double-elimination round robin with Mont Alto and New Kensington, competing for a spot in the PSUAC Championship game. 

Departing Player Spotlight

Kat Rapp is a first year player from Danville, PA playing in her first season with Hazleton. Kat will be continuing her education next year at University Park where she is pursuing her degree in agricultural sciences and pre-law.

Kendall Lobb is a second year player Pen Argyl, PA and playing in her second season with the Nittany Lions. Kendall will be transitioning to University Park next fall to continue her major in psychology while minoring in labor and human resources.

Rachael Gerfin is a second year player from Kingsley, Pa and playing in her first season with the Hazleton softball team. Rachael will be moving on to University Park next fall to continue her education in environmental resource management.

Tori Rabuck is a third year player from Tower City, PA and majoring in rehabilitation and human services with a minor in addictions and will be graduating next fall. Tori is a three-time PSUAC Academic All-Conference award winner and a USCAA National All-Academic Team member who has also competed with the volleyball and women's basketball teams. Tori has been named to the PSUAC All-Conference team in her two previous seasons and is a two-time USCAA All-American for softball. During her three-year career Tori has accumulated 104 hits, a .387 batting average, 68 RBI and 8 home runs and was selected as the 2023 female student-athlete of the year at Hazleton. Following graduation, Tori plans to attend grad school and eventually plans to pursue a career as an elementary school counselor.

Paige Parisi is a fourth year player from North Wales, PA majoring in health policy administration with a minor in rehabilitation and human services. Paige has competed with the Hazleton softball team for two seasons and last year was named to the PSUAC Academic All-Conference team. During her two years with the program, Paige has won eight games from the circle with a 5.66 earned run average with 58 strikeouts while posting a .317 batting average. Paige plans on pursuing a masters degree in the coming years while working in the field of healthcare.

Jess Lepore is a fourth year player from Telford, PA majoring in psychology. For four seasons, Jess has been one of the top defensive shortstops in the PSUAC and is a former PSUAC All-Conference Award winning infielder. For her career, Jess has played in 107 games, totaling 102 hits, 42 RBI, 81 runs scored, 33 stolen bases and a .317 batting average. Upon graduation, Jess plans to attend graduate school to obtain her master's degree in psychology. 

Linsey Fisk is a fourth year player from Millville, PA and is a graduate of the Physical Therapy Assistant program currently completing her bachelors degree in rehabilitation and human services. This year Linsey pulled off a remarkable feat becoming the first female student-athlete to compete in fall, winter and spring sports as a member of the Women's Soccer, Women's Basketball and Softball teams. Linsey is a four-team PSUAC Academic All-Conference Team member and has been voted to the PSUAC All-Conference team for soccer as a goalkeeper and two-time PSUAC All-Conference catcher in the PSUAC to go along with a USCAA All-American Award in 2021. During her career, Linsey has amassed a .352 batting average with 131 hits and 95 RBI. She has 49 extra base hits and 14 home runs to go along with 75 career runs scored. Following graduation, Linsey plans to work as a Physical Therapist Assistant with the eventual goal of obtaining her doctorate in physical therapy.