Softball Downs Franciscan in AMCC Opener

STUEBENVILLE, Ohio – The Penn State Behrend softball team collected their first pair of Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) wins and made a statement with a 20-0 game-one victory and 14-4 game-two decision over Franciscan on Sunday afternoon.

The Lions (5-9, 2-0 AMCC) scored a combined 34 runs and smacked six home runs in two games. In the opener, Behrend only had one scoreless inning and used a 13-run fourth frame to take a commanding lead and finish in five.

Rachel Miller (North East, PA/North East) struck out six batters and allowed just one hit for the shut out in the circle. Shannon McDonnell (Fayston, VA/Harwood Union) was a perfect 5-for-5 with two home runs and seven RBIs. She hit the long ball in the three-run third inning and then again in the big fourth inning.

Alexa Bupp (Warren, PA/Warren) was close behind McDonnell in the stat column, going 3-for-4 with back-to-back homers in the fourth for five RBIs. First base Amanda Krolczyk (Union City, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) had a 2-for-3 outing with a pair of RBIs.

In game two, Behrend started with nine runs in just the first two innings; five in the first and four in the second. Kelsey Heinrich (Brookville, PA/Brookville) got her glory for hitting the ball over the fence, once in the first and another in the sixth inning. Her three-run home run helped the Lions get on the board. She finished with five RBIs in game two.

Natalie Brock (Cochranton, PA/Cochranton) got her first collegiate win, pitching all six innings and allowing just four runs and fanning six.

Behrend returns to action on Tuesday against Hilbert in its home opener. The doubleheader begins at 3 p.m.