Softball Opens AMCC Action Against Pitt-Greensburg

GREENSBURG, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend softball team opened up Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) doubleheader action with a 3-1 loss and a 10-2 win against Pitt-Greensburg on Sunday afternoon.

The Lions (7-11, 1-1 AMCC) scored multiple runs in all but one of the five innings in game two thanks to the eight-run rule. In the opener, the Bobcats (9-13, 1-3 AMCC) smacked 10 hits and broke open a 1-all tie with a run in the fourth and another in the sixth to split on the day.

Allania Banta (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBeouf) went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and a double in the second game. Katie Gozzard (Pittsburgh, PA/Deer Lakes) tallied her first home run of the season for a pair of RBIs, while Rachel Miller (North East, PA/North East) struck out three and allowed just one earned run out of the two for her third win in the circle.

After recording two hits in a scoreless first inning, Behrend only need one hit to score three runs in the second thanks to four errors by Pitt-Greensburg. All the runs were scored before the lone hit, everyone reaching on an error. Banta tallied a sacrifice fly to score Shannon McDonnell (Fayston, VT/Harwood Union) and then Carson Hauser (Westfield, NY/Westfield Academy) was able to get Gozzard and Alayna Derzak (Seven Fields, PA/Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic) for a 3-0 lead.

Gozzard's hit over the fence scored the two runs in the third to make it 5-1 and AJ Nichols' (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler) single to right center knocked in Banta and Hauser in the fourth at 7-1. The seventh inning was all Banta. She doubled to score two and then reached home on an error for the final, 10-2.

To start the day, Kelley McNally had a hand in all three runs for the Bobcats and Jaimie Schleicher only allowed three hits and one run for the win.

For Behrend, Alexa Bupp (Warren, PA/Warren) tallied two of the three hits in the game including a double. In the top of the second, Bupp singled to the right side and advanced to second. She then advanced to third in a sacrifice bunt by Gozzard, before scoring on a fielder's choice by Kristen Kargol (Saegertown, PA/Cambridge Springs).

Pitt-Greensburg responded with a run in the bottom of the frame to tie it at 1-all. A McNally single in the fourth and sixth scored Julie Pritchard to give the Bobcats the lead and the eventual victory at 3-1.

Nichols suffered the loss after pitching four innings and giving up two earned runs and striking out four. Bupp came in for the final two innings, surrendering two hits and a run.

The Lions return to action on Tuesday at Pitt-Bradford. Game times are 3 and 5 p.m.