Ashley Whipkey picked up a pair of pitching wins as the Lady Bearcats used the longball to earn a doubleheader sweep, 5-4 and 7-0, over visiting Penn State-Fayette.

The opener began as a pitcher's duel between SVC's Angela Sleith and PSU-Fayette's Jennifer Lewellen, as the teams combined for just four base runners and no runs over the first three innings.

The Lions took the lead in the top of the fourth without the aid of a hit, as they took advantage of a pair of SVC errors to score an unearned run and go up 1-0.   SVC answered right back in the bottom half.  With two outs, Shannon Ballantyne reached on an infield single and moved to third on another one-base hit by Jenna Bealko.  Ballantyne was then able to score on a wild pitch, tying the game at one.

Fayette quickly regained the lead in the top of the fifth, as Ashley Ruble led off the frame with a line drive homer down the left field line to make the score 2-1.  The next three PSU-Fayette batters walked, before a Dana Yekel RBI single through the right side gave the Lions some insurance, as they went ahead 3-1.

The Lady Bearcat again answered right back in the bottom of the fifth. Maura Wahl led off with a double off the center field fence, and moved to third on a Rachel Komarinski single.  Mollie Stock then singled home Wahl, and after a pair of walks, Jostalyn Klosky laid down a perfect squeeze bunt, scoring Stock to tie the game at 3-3.  Ballantyne followed with a fielder's choice to score Stock, giving SVC it's first lead of the game.

As was the case throughout the contest, the Lions came back to tie it in the top of the sixth, but Komarinski put the Lady Bearcats ahead to stay in the bottom half, sending a solo shot over the right field fence to give SVC the 5-4 advantage.

The one-run lead was plenty for Whipkey, who relieved Sleith in the top of the fifth to work 1 1/3 innings, allowing just one hit while striking out three, to earn the win.

Wahl and Komarinski each finished 3-4 at the plate in the opener, as the Lady Bearcats out-hit the Lions 11-5. 

In the nightcap, SVC got on the board early, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the first, with Komarinski and Angela Doyle each stroking RBI doubles.  The Lady Bearcat bats then went quiet over the next three frames, as the squad only managed two base runners between the second and fourth innings, but SVC quickly awoke.

Leanna Seminsky opened the bottom of the fifth with her first home run of the season, a line drive over the fence in right center, while on the very next pitch, Wahl did the same, stretching the Lady Bearcat lead to 4-0.

Later on in the inning, Whipkey and Doyle each singled, and both were driven in on a Jostalyn Klosky double to the gap in right center, putting SVC in front 6-0.

The hosts closed the scoring in the bottom of the sixth.  After Wahl stroked her third hit of the game, a ground rule double to left, Komarinski drove her in with a single to right, making the score 7-0.

Whipkey, who started in the circle, made quick work of the PSU-Fayette batters, going the distance and allowing just three hits and no walks while striking out five for her second win of the day and third in as many appearances on the season.

Wahl again led the way at the plate for the victors, going 3-4 with a single, double, and homer, and three runs scored.  Komarinski went 2-4 and Doyle 2-3, as the Lady Bearcats once again banged out 11 hits.

After the sweep, the Lady Bearcats' record improves to 5-7.  The team returns to action this Friday, hosting a doubleheader with Penn State-Greater Allegheny beginning at 3pm.

PHOTO (By Jim Berger): Mollie Stock slides home safely in SVC's 5-4 victory over Penn State-Fayette in game one of a doubleheader.