Behrend Lions Softball Splits Non-Conference Doubleheader Versus Hiram

The Penn State Behrend softall team split its games against the visiting Hiram Terriers in a non-conference doubleheader at the Behrend softball field on Thursday, April 15.  Behrend won game won 5-4 and Hiram came back for an 8-6 win in game two.

In game one Hiram jumped out to an early lead getting its first two batters aboard before capitalizing on two Behrend errors, scoring four runs in the top of the first.  The blue and white were kept off the board until the fourth inning, when Beth Papalia (Warren/Warren) and Emma Hahn (Smethport/Smethport)  reached on errors, and Ashley Gruber (Burton, OH/Berkshire) stepped to the plate and smashed a double to drive in both runners and make it a 4-2 ballgame.

Behrend was back at it in the bottom of the fifth inning when the squad loaded the bases for Amy Greene (Erie/Strong Vincent) who drove in Brittany Simpson (Port Matilda/Bald Eagle) to make it 4-3.  Morgan Griffin (Springboro/Conneaut Valley) was hit by a pitch to force in the tying run, before Behrend scored the go-ahead run on a groundout.  Hiram got out of the inning without further damage, but with Behrend ahead 5-4.  The blue and white were able to close it one for the one-run win.

In game two, Behrend got it going in the bottom of the second as the home team got a hit sandwiched between two walks to load the bases with no outs.  Simpson's bunt scored one runner, and miscommunication by the Terriers allowed a second run to score.  The blue and white would add two more runs to build a 4-0 lead heading into the third. 

In the bottom of the third, Behrend loaded the bases with two outs but Hiram got a groundout to end the inning without giving up any runs.  Hiram got two runs back in the top of the fourth when a two-out single cut the Behrend lead to 4-2.  Hiram would then get a clutch double to drive in two more and tie the game up at 4-4.  Hiram pushed two more runners across the plate in the top of the fifth to lead 6-4.  In the bottom of the inning, Behrend scored a run on a Hiram error to cut it to 6-5, before Kessi Osborne's (Ellwood City/Riverside) bloop single scored Beth Chidester (Wexford/North Allegheny) to tie it up at 6-6.  Hiram pushed two across in the top of the seventh and closed out game two for the 8-6 win.

Behrend next plays at home on Saturday, April 17 in an AMCC doubleheader versus Mt. Aloysius.  Game one of the doubleheader will begin at 1:00 p.m.  The Behrend Lions then play their next three away from home, starting Sunday, April 18 with a non-conference doubleheader at Washington & Jefferson.