Westmoreland campus clippings: Expectations high for Seton Hill softball

Seton Hill is anticipating a potentially big season in softball this season, which begins this weekend.

The Griffins, who were 7-10 when the 2020 season was halted last March over the pandemic, is No. 2 in the PSAC West preseason coaches poll.

Top returnees include grad student Alexis Vargas, who was hitting .426 last season with two home runs, 14 runs and nine RBIs, and senior Jenna Osikowicz, a Hempfield grad who had a .390 average.

Sophomore Shaelynn Myers also returns as the team’s top pitcher. She had a 4.17 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings.

Gannon is ranked No. 1, followed by Seton Hill, IUP, Cal (Pa.) and Mercyhurst to round out the top five.

The PSAC will be divided into two divisions this season. West Chester is the favorite in the East.

Seton Hill is scheduled to host Wheeling Feb. 20.

Men’s basketball

Grove City: Senior guard Justice Rice (Monessen) scored 13 points to join a pair of teammates in double figures as the Wolverines fell to Geneva, 92-87, in their season opener.

Holy Cross: Senior guard Austin Butler (Latrobe) pumped in a game-high 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Crusaders (3-8) defeated Boston University, 82-65.

Saint Vincent: The Bearcats moved to 2-1 with a 71-64 win at Waynesburg. Senior forward Shemar Bennett scored a game-high 26 points, making 10 of 15 shots. Freshman forward Anthony Dillard had 18 points and nine rebounds, and Osyn Jones had 11 points and four assists.

West Virginia Wesleyan: Redshirt sophomore Marvel McGowan (Greensburg Salem) has played in eight games off the bench for the Bobcats (0-12). He had back-to-back eight-point games against Davis & Elkins and Charleston, with two 3-pointers in each.

Women’s basketball

Carlow: Freshman guard Jada Bass (Jeannette) had a season-high 10 points but the Celtics fell to Point Park, 82-61. She made 4 of 5 shots. Batts has played in eight games for Carlow (2-7).

Grove City: Junior forward Allison Podkul (Hempfield) posted her second straight double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, and sophomore transfer Megan Kallock (Greensburg Salem) had nine points as Grove City charged past Geneva, 89-56, in PAC action.

Point Park: Senior point guard Michelle Burns (Hempfield) nearly put up a triple-double with 21 points, nine rebounds and nine assists — she added four steals — in an 88-81 victory over Ohio Christian. Burns leads the River States Conference in scoring at 21.4 points.

Burns and sophomore forward Jordan Yaniga (Franklin Regional) each scored eight points, with Yaniga pulling down 11 rebounds and Burns eight in the Pioneers’ 82-61 win over Carlow. Point Park moved to 5-3.

Saint Vincent: Six players reached double figures in scoring as the Bearcats moved to 3-0 with an 82-64 victory against Waynesburg. Junior Taylor Geer had 16 points, and senior Carlee Kilgus added 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Sophomores Anna Betz and Ella Marconi had 10 points each, and sophomore Madison Weber went for 10 points and 15 rebounds.