DuBOIS, Pa. — Although some cooler morning temperatures might make some think about the start of the spring sports season, the reality is that the end of the regular season for spring sports at Penn State DuBois is upon us. With the championship playoffs in the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) on the horizon, the baseball and softball teams both looked to close out their conference seasons on a high note.

The softball team began play last week by hosting Penn State Greater Allegheny for a makeup game that was postponed earlier in the season. In what ended up being a dominate win for the Lady Lions, DuBois defeated Greater Allegheny by a final score of 28-0.

The Lady Lions left no doubt about their dominance, racking up an impressive 21 hits while capitalizing on their opponent's defensive vulnerabilities. Caitlyn Watson spearheaded the offensive onslaught, going a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate and contributing one RBI to the team's total. Natalie Bowser proved to be a force to be reckoned with, driving in an astonishing seven runs, highlighted by three doubles. Chelsea Busatto and Audrey Walker also made significant offensive contributions, tallying seven hits and seven RBIs between them.

On the defensive side, DuBois showcased their prowess, with pitchers Megan Hyde and Natalie Bowser combining for a shutout performance. Hyde displayed her pitching finesse with four strikeouts, while Bowser added five strikeouts of her own, effectively neutralizing Penn State Greater Allegheny's offense.

Back on the winning track, the Lady Lions looked to keep that going when they hosted Penn State Scranton on Friday for a doubleheader at Heindl Field. In game one, a high-powered DuBois offense score 18 runs on the way to an 18-4 victory.

DuBois wasted no time asserting their dominance, racking up 17 hits and capitalizing on Scranton's defensive struggles. Watson led the charge with an impressive 3-for-4 performance at the plate, contributing and RBI as well. Allison Lininger and Bowser also delivered standout performances, each collecting multiple hits and driving in crucial runs. The offensive onslaught continued with contributions from Busatto, Walker and Paige Pleta, who combined for six hits and six RBIs. Bowser's stellar performance included a home run, a double, and four RBIs, showcasing her power and consistency at the plate.

On the defensive side, DuBois’ pitching staff held Scranton in check, limiting them to just six hits. Hyde started strong with an impressive performance, holding Scranton hitless before being relieved. Despite some defensive miscues, DuBois’ offense proved too formidable for Scranton to contain.

The Lady Lions looked to get three wins in a row and complete a two-game sweep of Penn State Scranton in game two of the doubleheader. In a decisive matchup, DuBois finished the sweep of Scranton with a convincing 9-1 victory.

From the onset, DuBois asserted control, posting a relentless offensive attack that Scranton struggled to contain. Bowser led the charge with an impressive 3-for-3 performance at the plate, including two RBIs, while Walker and Pleta contributed key hits and RBIs to fuel DuBois' offensive surge.

On the mound, pitcher Aleigha Geer delivered a stellar performance, limiting Scranton to just one run on five hits over five innings of work. Geer's precision pitching kept Penn State Scranton's batters at bay, allowing only one walk while striking out four.

Penn State DuBois returned to action the following day when they traveled to face Penn State Hazleton for an important PSUAC matchup. DuBois went into the doubleheader needing wins in both games to keep themselves alive for the conference playoffs. In the first game of the day, a closely contested matchup saw DuBois get the win over Hazelton by a final score of 3-1.

The Lady Lions got off to a solid start with a standout performance from Watson, who delivered a crucial two-run home run in the fifth inning to break the deadlock. Watson's offensive contribution proved pivotal in securing the win for DuBois. Walker also chipped in with an RBI, driving in a run to extend DuBois' lead.

On the defensive side, Hyde showcased her skill, holding Hazleton to just one run on six hits over seven innings. Hyde's composed performance included three strikeouts and demonstrated her ability to navigate through Hazleton's lineup effectively. Penn State Hazleton put up a valiant effort, led by Linsey Fisk's RBI double in the fifth inning. However, their offensive output fell short against DuBois' strong pitching and defense.

With the win in the first game, the Lady Lions remained alive for playoff qualification. However, a win in game two was critical to keeping alive the playoff hopes. In another close game, Hazleton emerged victorious over DuBois by a final score of 9-8.

DuBois started strong, with Watson and Walker each launching home runs to give their team an early lead. Watson's two-run homer and Walker's solo shot highlighted DuBois' offensive effort, while contributions from Pleta, Busatto, and Lininger added to their run total.

However, Penn State Hazleton responded with a resilient performance, led by Ashley Wilson's home run and multi-hit efforts from several players, including Fisk and Athena Matenkoski. Hazleton's offense capitalized on opportunities, scoring crucial runs to edge ahead.

On the mound, both teams faced challenges, with Geer and Hyde pitching for DuBois and Paige Parisi taking the mound for Hazleton. Despite some defensive struggles, Parisi's resilience and solid pitching performance ultimately secured the win for Hazleton.

With the loss in game two, Penn State DuBois softball was eliminated from PSUAC playoff contention and saw their season come to a close. The Lady Lions finish the season with a 12-20 record.

On the baseball diamond, the Nittany Lions began their week by hosting Clarion University, an NCAA Division II team, at Showers Field on Tuesday. Despite a valiant effort from the Nittany Lions, DuBois fell to Clarion by a final score of 3-1.

The game began with both teams showcasing their defensive prowess, with neither side able to gain an early advantage. DuBois’ pitcher, Taylor Boland, impressed on the mound, holding Clarion's offense in check through five innings, allowing just two runs on four hits while striking out five batters.

Offensively, the Nittany Lions faced a tough challenge against Clarion's pitching. Despite managing six hits throughout the game, they struggled to convert scoring opportunities into runs. However, Brett Beith provided a glimmer of hope in the bottom of the eighth inning, driving in a crucial run with an RBI. On the defensive side, the Nittany Lions displayed resilience, highlighted by Maclain Welshans' solid relief pitching. Welshans stepped up with a strong performance, allowing just one run on five hits over 2.2 innings of work, striking out six batters.

Despite their efforts, DuBois couldn't muster enough offense to overcome Clarion's lead. They fought hard until the final out but ultimately fell short in the contest.

The loss to Clarion marked an end to an eight-game win streak for DuBois. Looking to get a new streak started, the Nittany Lions hosted Penn State Beaver for a PSUAC doubleheader on Saturday. Game one showed a resilient team for DuBois, showcasing a dominant performance in a 15-0 win over Beaver in five innings.

Right from the start, the Nittany Lions asserted control over the game, scoring eight runs in the first inning to set the tone. They continued to pile on the pressure, adding three more runs in the second inning and four in the third, effectively sealing the victory early on.

Offensively, DuBois displayed great discipline at the plate, drawing six walks and making the most of their scoring opportunities. Colby Bodtorf led the charge with two runs and two RBIs, while Cory Lehman and Jake Sikora contributed with timely hits and RBIs of their own. Grant Lillard had a standout performance, driving in four runs with a double, showcasing his ability to deliver in clutch situations. Tylor Herzing and Hayden Vaughn also made significant contributions, each tallying two RBIs in the game.

On the mound, the pitching staff for DuBois was equally impressive, holding Penn State Beaver scoreless throughout the game. Connor Cherry led the way with two solid innings, allowing just one hit while striking out three batters. Ezeck Ollinger, Owen Graham, and Jeff Romano combined to close out the game, shutting down Penn State Beaver's offense and securing the dominant victory.

Saturday also marked senior day for the Penn State DuBois baseball team, with eight seniors being recognized between the two games of the double header. Once the ceremony was complete, the Nittany Lions continued their high scoring efforts in game two, securing an 11-1 victory over Penn State Beaver.

DuBois wasted no time asserting their dominance, scoring two runs in the first inning to set the tone early. They then exploded for seven runs in the second inning, capitalizing on timely hits and capitalizing on Penn State Beaver's defensive errors. The Nittany Lions were led by Lehman, who contributed two hits and two runs. Beith and Braylen Corter also had notable performances, each driving in two runs to bolster the team's lead. Lillard and Alex Gavlock added key hits and RBIs to the offensive onslaught.

On the mound, Zach Tiracorda started strong, pitching two solid innings and allowing only one hit. Sikora and Austin Mitchell followed with strong relief appearances, effectively shutting down Penn State Beaver's offense and preserving the lead.

Penn State DuBois and Penn State Beaver faced each other for another doubleheader on Sunday, with Beaver hosting. These two games marked the final games for the Nittany Lions in the PSUAC regular season. In game one of the double header, DuBois’s high powered offensive output continued with a 13-1 win.

The Nittnay Lions wasted no time establishing their dominance, putting up five runs in the second inning to take control of the game early on. They continued to pile on the runs, scoring six more in the third inning and two in the fourth to build an insurmountable lead. DuBois was led by Tanner LaBenne, who delivered a stellar performance with two hits, including a home run, and three RBIs. Lehman and Tyler Yough also made significant contributions, each driving in two runs to bolster the team's lead. Bodtorf and Herzing added timely hits and RBIs to the offensive onslaught.

On the mound, Joe Tettis delivered a solid start, pitching three innings and allowing just one run on two hits while striking out two batters. Casey Serine and Austin Shoup followed with strong relief appearances, effectively shutting down Penn State Beaver's offense and preserving the lead.

DuBois looked to finish off a four-game sweep of Beaver when they played the final game of the doubleheader on Sunday. They would do just that, winning game two by a final score of 10-0.

The Nittany Lions got things rolling early, putting up four runs in the second inning to take an early lead. They continued to pile on the pressure, adding three more runs in the third inning and another three in the sixth to extend their lead and seal the victory. Hayden Vaughn led the charge for DuBois with a stellar performance, going 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles, a home run, and two RBIs. Beith, Corter, and Gavlock also made significant contributions, each driving in runs to bolster the team's lead.

On the mound, Christian Hopp delivered a great performance, pitching three scoreless innings while striking out six batters to earn the win. Zach Witherow, Chase Brush, Wyatt Coakley, and Josh Ross combined to shut down Penn State Beaver's offense for the remainder of the game, allowing just two hits and no runs.

Looking at the week ahead, the baseball team will close out the regular season with two games scheduled prior to the PSUAC playoffs. The Nittany Lions will travel to visit Clarion University on Tuesday, April 23, with a scheduled first pitch of 1 p.m. DuBois will then be on the road again when they visit Thiel College on Thursday, April 25. Start time for this game is scheduled for 4 p.m.

The Nittany Lions will enter the PSUAC playoffs on Saturday, April 27, and they will host opening games at Showers Field in DuBois, having secured home field advantage as the number one seed on the western side of the championship bracket. The day at Showers Field will begin at 3 p.m. when Penn State Greater Allegheny, the number three seed, faces off with Penn State Mont Alto, the number two seed. The winner of this single elimination game will advance to face Penn State DuBois in the final game of the day at Showers Field, which is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.

For complete athletic schedules, including any weather-related changes, visit the Penn State DuBois athletic website.