Softball Sweeps Thiel

Softball Sweeps Thiel

GREENVILLE, Pa. – The  Penn State Behrend softball team picked up a pair of wins over Thiel, 7-0 in game one and 10-4 in game two, in non-conference action on Sunday afternoon.

AJ Nichols (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler) threw a three-hit shutout in the opener, fanning seven batters for her fifth win of the season. The Lions (9-5) tallied five hits, three of them being doubles including two by Alexa Bupp (Warren, PA/Warren). Behrend scored two runs in the third and five in the sixth in game one.

In the nightcap, the Lions registered a season-best 17 hits to score 10 runs for the sweep. Carson Hauser (Westfield, NY/Westfield Academy) and Angela Dale (Clinton, PA/West Allegheny) each had three hits, while Mackenzie McIntire (Stoneboro, PA/Lakeview) had three RBIs on two hits. Brittney Williams (Atlantic, PA/Conneaut Lake) got her first win in the circle, allowing three hits and one run.

In game one, Behrend scored two runs with two outs showing in the top of the third. Angela Sullivan (Belle Vernon, PA/Belle Vernon) walked and advanced to second on another walk for Katie Gozzard (Pittsburgh, PA/Deer Lakes). Both scored on a double to left center by Bupp.

The Lions continued to hold the Tomcats (4-10) scoreless and then plated five more runs in the sixth for the final 7-0 margin.  Behrend had nine batters walked, including three in the frame for bases loaded and one out.  Hauser got an RBI on a fielders choice to score Dale and then Bupp drove in three with her second double to left center. Bupp then came home on a two-bagger by Nichols for the final run.

The Lions got the bats out for game two. Never trailing, Behrend's runs spanned over five innings beginning in the third inning. The Lions scored four runs on five hits in the frame to get on the board first. Thiel got one run in the bottom of the third to make it 4-1.

Behrend added two runs in the fourth and the fifth innings, then just one in the sixth and seventh. The Tomcats were able to get three runs in the fifth but it was not enough for the comeback.

The Lions return to action on Wednesday at La Roche. The doubleheader begins at 3 p.m.