D'Youville Nips Lions in Eighth Inning

Hannah Norton hit a home run and Chelsea Stoeckl doubled, before scoring the game-winning run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning to lead D’Youville over Penn State Behrend 4-3 in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Championships on Friday afternoon.

D'Youville Nips Lions in Eighth Inning
May 6, 2011

CRESSON, Pa. – Hannah Norton hit a home run and Chelsea Stoeckl doubled, before scoring the game-winning run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning to lead D'Youville over Penn State Behrend 4-3 in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Championships on Friday afternoon.

Down 3-2 in the eighth, the second-seeded Spartans (19-8) scored two runs with just one out to remain undefeated heading into the championships tomorrow. The Lions (15-16) opened the day with a 3-2 win over Pitt-Bradford and now have a 1-1 record in the double-elimination tournament.

Behrend recorded three runs on five hits, getting two singles from Morgan Griffin. Kelsey Fuller started on the mound and was relieved by Kourtney Walsh with one out in the eighth.

The Lions came to life in the sixth inning to break a scoreless tie. Griffin singled through the left side and Amy Greene reached on a fielder's choice, moving Griffin to third on a throwing error.  Samantha Grismore advanced the two runners and Fuller singled up the middle for her first hit of the day to put two runs on the board for the lead.

Unfortunately, the Spartans also came to life in the sixth. Three hits and two runs later, the game was tied at 2-all.

At the top of the order in the seventh, D'Youville made three easy outs to get a chance at winning the game at the bottom of the frame.  The Lions returned the favor, however, to send the game into extra innings.

Gruber picked the right time to get her first hit of the game, making in a double into left field to score pinch runner Chloe Vernon to give Behrend the lead once again at 3-2. Similar to the first inning, the Lions loaded the bases and left three stranded for the one-run advantage.

D'Youville tied it on the first batter thanks to Norton's home run and Stoeckl put herself in scoring position with her double. She advanced to third on the first out and made her way home on a wild pitch by Walsh.

Behrend returns to action tomorrow against No. 5 La Roche. Game time is 9 a.m.