Penn State Behrend Eliminated at NCAA Regional

Penn State Behrend dropped a 5-2 decision to Buffalo State in the first game of the NCAA Tournament regional hosted by Ithaca College on Thursday, May 7.  #5 Behrend had a 2-1 lead but the #4 Bengals put up four runs in the bottom of the fifth, and would secure the 3-run win.

Behrend was trailing 1-0 heading into the fifth inning.  Rachelle Lawrence (Warren Center/Northeast Bradford) started the rally by leading off with a single before advancing to second on an error.  She advanced to third on a sacrifice fly.  Laura Frischcorn (Beaver Falls/Beaver Falls) reached base on an error before Stacy Peterson (Meadville/Cochranton) entered the game as a pinch runner and stole second base.  With runners on the corners and two outs, Lia Sorce (Glenshaw/Shaler) reached on an error which brought home both Lawrence and Peterson and gave Behrend a 2-1 lead. 

Buffalo State responded immediately putting up four runs in the bottom of the inning to make it 5-2.  The blue and white were able to get a runner to second base in both the sixth and seventh innings, but each time the runner was stranded and Buffalo State closed out the opening game of the regional with a win.

Julie Koman got the loss, pitching four innings giving up five run, four of them earned. 

The blue and white entered a pitching duel in their next game against the number one seeded Cortland State.  The Behrend Lions would drop a 1-0 decision to end their season at 33-8. 

Freshman Emma Hahn (Smethport/Smethport) pitched a solid game going six innings giving up only three hits and one earned run.  However, the Behrend Lions bats went silent in their elimination game.  Amy Greene (Erie/Strong Vincent) had the only hit of the game for the blue and white in the fifth as the Behrend Lions season ended with a 1-0 loss.