Softball Repeats as AMCC Champions; Lions Win Seventh Title

BUFFALO, NY – The Penn State Behrend softball team won its seventh Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Championship with a 4-0 win over D'Youville on Sunday morning.

In a rematch of the 2015 AMCC Championship game, the Lions (26-11) defeated the Spartans (23-12) once again to earn back-to-back titles for the first time since 2009. Rachel Miller (North East, PA/North East) threw a four-hit shutout to record her third win of the weekend in the circle.

Miller, Alexa Bupp (Warren, PA/Warren) and Sarah Blagg (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) were selected to the All-Tournament Team for helping Behrend get through the tournament undefeated.

The Lions tallied seven hits, getting two in the second inning to plate their first two runs. Bupp started the inning with a single through the left side and advanced to third on Katie Gozzard's (Pittsburgh, PA/Deer Lakes). From third, Bupp scored on a passed ball with Allania Banta (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) at bat.

After getting to second with the passed ball, Gozzard went to third on the first out and then scored on the second ground out by Julia Luke (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) for a 2-0 lead after two. m

Miller four three innings that resulted in three straight outs, including the sixth where Behrend added two more runs.

Shannon McDonnell (Fayston, VT/Harwood Union) and Bupp each doubled to center field to put runners on. Gozzard got her first RBI reaching on a fielder's choice to knock in McDonnell. Banta followed with the sacrifice fly to send home Bupp for a 4-0 lead that put the Lions within three outs of the championship.

Miller forced two pop ups and a ground out in the top of the seventh to hold off the Spartans for the win.

AJ Nichols (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler) and Bupp each finished with a pair of hits on the day.

Behrend receives the AMCC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and will find out opponent and location on Monday. First round action is May 13-15.