Mt. Union Spoils Behrend Softball Home Opener

Courtesy of John Leisering

ERIE, Pa. - The Mount Union Purple Raiders softball team spoiled Penn State Behrend's home-opening doubleheader Wednesday, defeating the Lions 5-3 in game one and 7-3 in the nightcap in a game stopped after five innings because of inclement weather. Mt. Union stretched its winning streak to 10 as it improved to 13-3 while the Lions fell for the fourth straight time in a 4-10 season. The Purple Raiders now lead the all-time series with Behrend 18-6. The series dates to 1988.

Game one was a back-and-forth affair. Mt. Union freshman Sydney Mercer hit a two-out first-inning homerun. Senior Maddie Smith (DuBois, PA/DuBois) got the Lions even in the third with an rbi-single to right. The Purple Raiders reclaimed the lead in the fifth on an infield grounder. But Behrend centerfielder, sophomore Sierra Williams (Grove City, PA/Lakeview), homered to center in the home half and a second run scored in the inning on an infield out by senior catcher Cami McNany (Emlenton, PA/Allegheny-Clarion Valley).

Mt. Union sophomore Adri George abruptly tied the game at 3-3 with a lead-off blast in the sixth and the Purple Raiders recaptured the advantage with a pair in the seventh. Mercer singled in one run while the second scored on a double by George.  The Lions got Smith's third single of the contest with one out in the bottom half of the seventh, but a fielder's choice and a ground ball ended the tilt.

Both teams amassed 10 hits and stranded five. Freshman Kendyll Cahill (7-1) went all the way for the Purple Raiders while junior Kayla Lindberg (Austinburg, OH/Geneva) absorbed the loss.

The second contest was not quite so dramatic. Mt. Union plated two in the first against Behrend freshman Abby Tingley (Union City, PA/Union City). Mercer hit a sacrifice fly to center and George followed with her second dinger of the doubleheader.  After the Lions went in order in the bottom half, Mt. Union scored three more in the second on five singles, two of them in the infield. Freshman Lydia Brunner, senior Grace Heath and freshman Faith Reicosky collected the runs-batted-in.

The deficit for Behrend grew to 6-0 in the fourth when Reicosky drove in Heath with her second hit of the contest. The Lions got on the board in the fourth when Williams stroked a two-run double but the Purple Raiders answered with a run in the fifth on a George double, her sixth hit of the day and a single by freshman catcher Faith Kiko.

The Lions got the final run of the game in their half of the fifth when junior Britney Shaw (St. Marys, PA/St. Marys) singled, moved to third on a pair of wild pitches and scored on an infield out by freshman Alexia Brown. With snow falling and the weather rapidly deteriorating, the game was stopped.

Freshman pitcher Chloe Bird (2-0) worked the first 3.2 innings before freshman Brooklyn Schlabach was summoned to get the final four outs.

Starting pitcher Tingley (0-4) went the distance for Behrend.

The Purple Raiders Adri George was the team's hittig star, going 6 for 6 in the twinbill, with two homers, two doubles and three RBI's.

Williams was the most effective Behrend batter, going 4-for-5 with a round-tripper, a double, and two singles.  

The Lions will return to action Thursday with a non-conference doubleheader at Fredonia. First pitch is scheduled for 3pm.