Scranton Lions Softball Drop a Pair on Senior Day

By: Ross Turetsky, Penn State Scranton Athletics

On a warm Tuesday afternoon in the electric city, the hometown Penn State Scranton Lions softball squad lost both ends of their rescheduled doubleheader vs. conference rival Penn State Du Bois by the scores of 14-2 in game one and 11-0 in the senior day nightcap. With these two defeats, Scranton wraps up their 2025 regular season campaign with a 7-20 overall record and a 5-9 mark in their crucial league play schedule.

In the opening contest, the road warriors from Du Bois scored early and often, as they plated a trio of runs in the top half of the first inning, a five spot in the third, and a robust six runs in the fifth and final frame, as they cruised to their dominant 12 run triumph by game's end. Meanwhile, the Lions from Scranton roared for a run in the bottom half of the first inning and added one more for good measure in the fifth to account for their two runs scored in the ball game. Overall Du Bois out hit Scranton by a 12-5 margin in the battle.

Scranton was led on the offensive side of the ball by their stand-out sophomore pitcher Aryanna Bodge who recorded her ball club's only multi-hit performance in the showdown, as she went an impressive 2-3 at the dish, scored once, and had an RBI. The Lions other three hits in the match came off the bats of their freshman second baseman Kelsi Howe who went 1-2 and drew a walk, sophomore catcher Genevieve Moyles who was a perfect 1-1 at the plate and knocked a run in, and fellow sophomore, center fielder Vanessa Hodges went 1-2 and scored her team's other run in the contest.

Meanwhile, Du Bois had a quartet of stellar ball players who had multi-hit ball games, as freshman third baseman Sienna Barnhart, fellow freshman, shortstop Jessy Frank, senior left fielder Makena Baney, and senior Chelsea Busatto set the pace offensively for their squad. Barnhart led the way going a near flawless 3-4 at the plate, cranking a double, and a home run during the festivities, to go along with tallying a hat trick of runs, and knocking in four. Frank was 2-3 at the dish, scoring twice, walked once, and added an RBI to boot. Baney also went 2-3, with a walk, and scored a couple of runs. Busatto was 2-4, smashing a home run, scoring two runs, and had a pair of RBI. Du Bois' other three base hits came off the bats of their sophomore second baseman Audrey Walker who was 1-3, with a run, a walk, and an RBI, sophomore first baseman Natalie Bowser went 1-4 and knocked in a run, and last but certainly not least, fellow sophomore, center fielder Kamryn Mactavish was 1-3, scored twice, walked once, and drove in three.

On the pitching side of things, Scranton's hurler Bodge got the start on the mound and she tossed all five frames of the match and picked up the loss, allowing 11 earned runs, 12 hits, walked four, and fanned four Du Bois batters on the day. Meanwhile, senior Kelsey Stuart toed the slab for her Du Bois squad and earned the complete game five inning victory on the bump, surrendering just two earned runs, five hits, walked only one, and struck out four Scranton hitters in her commanding performance.

In the game two nightcap, Du Bois once again scored early and often, as they plated a couple of runs in the first, a trio in the top of the third, a five spot in the fourth, and added one for good measure in the fifth and final frame, as they cruised to their dominant 11 run triumph by game's end. Overall Du Bois out hit Scranton by a 9-4 margin in game two.

Scranton's four hits came off the bats of Bodge who went 1-3, stalwart senior pitcher Olivia Shimonis was a perfect 1-1 at the dish, with a walk, and drilled a nice double, sophomore catcher Kaleena Lukasewicz went 1-2 at the plate, and senior left fielder Kathryn Lahey was a perfect 1-1 at the plate, drew a walk, and swiped a pair of bases during the festivities.

Meanwhile, Du Bois had the dynamic duo of Stuart and Frank who lead the way offensively for their club with their top notch multi-hit performances. Stuart was 3-4, bashing a double, stole a base, tallied two runs, and drove in a game-high five. Frank went 2-4, scored twice, and swiped a bag as well. Du Bois' other quartet of hits came off the bats of Baney who was 1-2, walked twice, and tallied four runs, Barnhart went 1-3 and scored once, Busatto was 1-4, stole a base, scored once, and knocked in a pair, and finally, Walker also went 1-4, with a run, and an RBI.

On the pitching side of things, Scranton starting hurler Shimonis took the loss throwing the first 3 and 2/3 innings, giving up eight earned runs, eight base hits, walked five, and struck out a hat trick of batters. Game one starting pitcher, Bodge, came in relief in the nightcap and tossed the final 1 1/3 innings, allowing just one earned run, a hit, walked no one, and fanned a Du Bois hitter. Meanwhile, Du Bois' junior starting pitcher Theresa Luongo earned the complete game shutout victory on the hill, as she threw five scoreless frames, surrendering just four hits, walked a couple of hitters, and struck out one Scranton batter in her dominant effort.

Now veteran head coach Mar Tsakonas and her 7-20 Penn State Scranton squad, who are 5-9 in league play, will try to snap their mini two game losing skid to wrap up the regular season in the PSUAC softball playoff championship tournament in a crucial elimination contest against conference foe Penn State Mont Alto this Friday afternoon at Heindl Field in Du Bois, PA, with first pitch scheduled for a 2pm start time. Meanwhile, head coach Jeff Tomb and his Penn State Du Bois softball program finished up their regular season on a red hot four game winning streak with an overall 16-13 mark and a rock solid 8-6 conference record, as they head into all-important postseason play with plenty of momentum when they face off with league rival Penn State Beaver this Friday afternoon at 12pm.