D'Youville Edges Softball in AMCC Opener

ERIE, Pa. – Kalie McHenry picked up two wins in the circle and also drove in the game-winning runs in game two to help the D'Youville softball team defeat Penn State Behrend 6-3 and 6-5 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action on Wednesday.

McHenry pitched both games, striking out nine and giving up six earned runs to give the Spartans (6-6, 2-0 AMCC) their first pair of conference wins of the season. The senior also went 4-for-8 with six RBIs and two triples on the day.

Alexa Bupp (Warren, PA/Warren) went 3-for-4 with two runs and a home run in game two. Sarah Blagg (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) knocked one over the fence in the nightcap.

Those two home runs by Blagg and Bupp put the Lions (5-9, 0-2 AMCC) ahead after four innings. Blagg smacked hers over the left-field fence in the bottom of the third with one out, while Bupp started the bottom of the fourth with a long ball into left center for a 2-0 advantage.

Behrend kept D'Youville scoreless until the sixth inning. The Spartans scored six runs on three hits in the top of the frame for a four-run lead. With bases loaded and no outs, D'Youville scored its first run on an error and then added another with a single by Lauren DeVantier.

With two outs, McHenry hit a three-run triple to break the 2-all tie for a 5-2 lead. She then scored on an error for the last run of the inning to make it 6-2.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Lions with three runs on four hits to get within one run. Two straight singles and a passed ball put Bupp and Julia Luke (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) on second and third. Katie Gozzard (Pittsburgh, PA/Deer Lakes) hit one down the right field line to send home Bupp and Luke. She then scored on a double by Kristen Kargol (Saegertown, PA/Cambridge Springs) to cut the deficit to 6-5 all with no outs.

Behrend had the tying run on second for the remainder of the inning, but couldn't get her off that base.

AJ Nichols (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler) pitched the complete game, giving up 10 hits and two earned runs while striking out eight.

In the opener, the Spartans took a quick 3-0 lead after the first inning. Three hits turned into three runs thanks to two extra-base hits. Behrend responded with two runs in the second on a triple by Bupp and a D'Youville error.

The Lions tied it up at 3-all in the third. Blagg singled to center field and then advanced to second on a passed ball. Allania Banta's (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) single sent Blagg to third and she scored on an error.

Behrend had a chance to take the lead in the fourth with three straight hits with one out, two being bunt singles at the bottom of the order but the Spartans held off the runs with bases loaded.

In the fifth, D'Youville hit back-to-back two-out doubles to go ahead 4-3 and then added another run on the final out of the frame.

The Lions threatened again in the bottom of the sixth with runners on second and third and one out showing. Behrend could not bring them around and D'Youville got a home run by Hannah Turek in the seventh for the final 6-3 margin.

Rachel Miller (North East, PA/North East) pitched the first five innings for the Lions and struck out two for the loss. Bupp came in and finished the final two innings.

Banta and Kelsey Heinrich (Brookville, PA/Brookville) each tallied two hits in game one.

Behrend returns to action on Saturday at Mt. Aloysius. Game times are 1 and 3 p.m.