The Penn State DuBois baseball team stands for a group picture with the third-place plaque during the USCAA Small College World Series at Showers Field in DuBois.
DuBOIS, Pa. – For the second consecutive year, both the baseball and softball teams at Penn State DuBois were selected to play in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Small College World Series. The national championship tournament, hosted by the city of DuBois, brings the best teams in the USCAA together to determine who will be the national champion in baseball and softball. Competitive play highlighted to tournament and the Nittany Lions and Lady Lions gave full effort to finish their seasons on a high note.
Penn State DuBois senior designated player Chelsea Busatto is congratulated by her teammates at home plate after hitting a home run during a game in the USCAA Small College World Series, held at Heindl Field in DuBois.
The Lady Lion softball team earned an automatic bid into the world series by winning the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) championship the week before. Entering the national championship tournament as the number three overall seed, Penn State DuBois opened play with a commanding 11–4 victory over Bay Path University, advancing to the tournament semifinals behind a relentless offensive performance and strong pitching.
Junior designated player Chelsea Busatto led the charge for the Lady Lions, going 3-for-4 at the plate with two home runs and four RBIs. Her two-run blast in the bottom of the first inning set the tone, and she added a second homer in the sixth to seal the win. Shortstop Jessy Frank added solo home run, going 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI in the game. Kelsey Stuart contributed both at the plate and in the circle, going 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and three runs scored. She also earned the win, tossing 5.1 innings and allowing four earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts.
The Lady Lions broke the game open with a four-run third inning, capitalizing on timely hits and a Bay Path error. Audrey Walker and Natalie Bowser added RBIs in the rally, and Sienna Barnhart added a sacrifice fly in the fourth to extend the lead to 7–1.
Bay Path cut into the deficit with a two-run homer by Madison Sunderland in the fifth and a wild pitch in the sixth, but the Lady Lions responded with three more runs in the bottom half of the sixth to put the game out of reach. Sunderland, who also pitched for the Wildcats, took the loss after surrendering 11 runs (nine earned) on 11 hits in six innings of work. She threw 140 pitches in the outing.
Theresa Luongo closed the door for DuBois with 1.2 innings of relief, allowing just one hit and no runs while striking out one.
With the win, Penn State DuBois advanced on to face Florida National, the tournament’s number two overall seed, in the second round on May 13. A day after an explosive offensive showing, DuBois was held scoreless by Florida National, falling 8–0 in five innings.
Florida National capitalized on wild pitches, timely hitting, and small ball execution to put up four runs in both the second and fourth innings. Starting pitcher Sophia White kept the Lady Lions off balance all game, tossing a complete-game shutout while allowing just four hits and striking out two.
DuBois struggled to generate momentum at the plate. Busatto recorded the team’s lone extra-base hit with a double, while Walker, Bowser and Luongo each added singles. The Lady Lions stranded seven runners and failed to advance a baserunner past second.
Luongo, who got the start in the circle, was charged with the loss after surrendering four earned runs in 1.1 innings. Stuart entered in relief, allowing two earned runs over 2.2 innings while issuing two walks and recording one strikeout.
Florida National used aggressive baserunning and situational hitting to take control. RBI contributions came from Alissia Vega, Alyssa Julien and Gianna Hall, with Vega also collecting a pair of hits and two RBIs. Four of the eight runs scored on wild pitches or sacrifice flies, and two more came in on a misplayed ball in center field.
With the loss, Penn State DuBois fell into the elimination bracket where they would face Carlow University in a win or go home game on May 14. The season came to a close for the Lady Lions on this day as they were eliminated with a 7–4 loss to Carlow University.
Despite a three-run third inning that briefly gave the Lady Lions the lead, DuBois couldn’t contain Carlow’s persistent offense, which tallied 11 hits and scored in four different frames.
Barnhart and Busatto once again led the way at the plate. Barnhart went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored, while Busatto drove in two with a home run in the third. Stuart added an RBI single in the seventh and also threw a complete game in the circle, allowing five earned runs on 11 hits over six innings.
Carlow took advantage of two DuBois errors and scored a pair of unearned runs in the first inning to take an early lead. After falling behind 3–2, the Celtics responded with five unanswered runs, including RBI doubles from Megan Pollinger and Mackenzie Egley, and an RBI groundout from Haley Bicko.
DuBois had its chances late, putting runners on base in the sixth and seventh innings, but Carlow’s bullpen held firm, with Bicko earning the save by retiring the side in order in the final frame.
Penn State DuBois finished the softball season with an overall record of 21-15.
Penn State DuBois junior infielder Kyle Elensky follows through on his swing during a game in the USCAA Small College World Series, held at Showers Field in DuBois.
On the baseball side, Penn State DuBois was selected as the number two overall seed in the baseball national championship tournament. The Nittany Lions played their opening game on May 12 against PSUAC foe Penn State Schuylkill.
A six-run first inning proved to be just enough for DuBois, as the Lions held off a furious comeback attempt by Schuylkill to earn a 6–5 victory.
All of DuBois' offense came in the bottom of the first. Grant Lillard got the Lions on the board with a two-run single to score Colby Bodtorf and Kyle Elensky. Alex Gavlock followed with a two-RBI double to left-center, plating Lillard and Isaac Tiracorda. Bryce Dobson then delivered another double, driving in Gavlock and Jake Sikora to cap the early scoring outburst.
Schuylkill answered in the third inning, loading the bases before Brandon Pupek was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Yostin Guerrero then launched a grand slam to right-center, cutting the DuBois lead to just one. But the DuBois bullpen held firm the rest of the way.
Connor Cherry improved to 9–0 on the season, going five innings and striking out five while giving up five earned runs. Travis Keister recorded one out in relief, and Josh Ross earned his second save of the year by retiring all five batters he faced, including two via strikeout.
Bodtorf and Lillard led the DuBois offense with two hits apiece, while Dobson, Gavlock, and Braylen Corter each added one. DuBois also made its mark on the basepaths with four stolen bases and turned a critical double play defensively.
Advancing in the winners’ bracket, Penn State DuBois prepared to face a familiar foe in the second round on May 13. That familiar foe, the Apprentice School. In a battle dominated by pitching, DuBois found just enough offense in the bottom of the eighth inning to walk off Apprentice, 1–0, and advance on in the world series.
Scoreless through seven, DuBois loaded the bases in the eighth after Elensky singled, Lillard walked, and Tiracorda reached on another free pass. Corter then worked a full-count walk of his own to force in Elensky for the game’s only run and deliver the Lions’ second win of the tournament.
Three DuBois pitchers combined to shut out Apprentice, allowing just two hits and striking out eight. Starter Taylor Boland was masterful over 6.1 innings, allowing only one hit but walking eight. Joe Tettis bridged the gap with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, and Christian Hopp struck out the only batter he faced to earn the win and move to 2–0 on the season.
Elensky led the Lions at the plate with two hits, including a double, and scored the winning run. Bodtorf, Lillard, Tiracorda, and Nick Cagliola also added hits for DuBois.
The win advanced Penn State DuBois into the winners’ bracket final where they would face Salem University on May 14. The winner would advance automatically into the national championship series. The loser would have to fight through another game to get there. Despite a 15-hit performance, DuBois couldn’t overcome a relentless Salem offense, falling 13–6.
The Nittany Lions matched Salem with 15 hits, but defensive miscues and three home runs from the Tigers proved too much to overcome. Reese Rinna drove in six runs for Salem, including two three-run home runs that helped break the game open in the fourth and sixth innings.
Bodtorf and Elensky continued their hot streaks for DuBois, combining for four hits, three runs, and three RBIs. Bodtorf delivered a two-run triple in the fourth and Elensky followed with a go-ahead RBI single in the same frame to briefly give DuBois a 5–4 lead.
Salem answered with nine unanswered runs over the final two innings, aided by three DuBois errors and timely extra-base hits from Luis Angarita and Jacob Hurley.
Lillard collected three hits, while Corter, Dobson, and Sikora each contributed multi-hit games. Sikora drove in two runs, including a sacrifice fly in the first and an RBI single in the seventh.
Starter Jeff Romano took the loss, allowing five runs, four earned, over 3.2 innings. Five DuBois relievers combined for the final 3.1 innings but couldn’t slow down the Tigers, who scored in four of their last five at-bats.
Falling into the elimination bracket with the loss, Penn State DuBois would face another PSUAC team on May 15 for the right to play for a national championship. It was Penn State Mont Alto who was waiting for them in the game and another chapter was added to the rivalry between the two teams.
A late comeback push wasn’t enough for DuBois, as the Lions dropped an 11-9 decision to Mont Alto, bringing their season to an end as the third-place team in the USCAA.
Despite a strong offensive showing with 13 hits, DuBois couldn’t overcome a seven-run fourth inning by Mont Alto, which proved to be the difference in the high-scoring battle.
Dobson and Sikora both homered for DuBois, with Dobson launching a three-run shot in the third to give the Lions a brief 5-3 lead. Sikora added a two-run homer in the seventh to pull DuBois within two, but Mont Alto’s bullpen held firm to secure the win.
Lillard went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI, continuing his productive tournament. Tiracorda and Corter each added two hits and scored two runs, while Slaugenhoup and Gavlock chipped in with one RBI apiece.
DuBois cycled through four pitchers in the loss. After starter Zach Tiracorda allowed three runs in 2.2 innings, Mont Alto capitalized on control issues in the fourth, drawing five walks and plating seven runs in the inning. Hopp took the loss in relief.
Penn State DuBois finished the baseball season with an overall record of 32-11.
During the world series, the USCAA announced their All-Academic, All-American and All-Tournament award winners. Selections from Penn State DuBois included:
Softball:
- All-Academic
- Makena Baney
- Chelsea Busatto
- Kelsey Stuart
- Audrey Walker
- 2nd Team All-American
- Sienna Barnhart
- Honorable Mention All-American
- Kelsey Stuart
- Chelsea Busatto
- All-Tournament Team
- Chelsea Busatto
Baseball:
- All-Academic
- Nick Cagliola
- Braylen Corter
- Bryce Dobson
- Owen Graham
- Ben Gritzer
- Jorge Rodriguez
- Jeff Romano
- Casey Serine
- Zach Tiracorda
- Zach Witherow
- 1st Team All-American
- Grant Lillard
- 2nd Team All-American
- Isaac Tiracorda
- Honorable Mention All-American
- Colby Bodtorf
- Kyle Elensky
- All-Tournament Team
- Taylor Bolland
For complete athletic information, visit the Penn State DuBois athletic website.
