Behrend Lions Softball Clawed by Grove City Wolverines

The Penn State Behrend softall team dropped both games of the doubleheader against the visiting Grove City Wolverines in a non-conference doubleheader at the Behrend softball field on Friday, April 23.

In game one Behrend pitcher Emma Hahn (Smethport/Smethport) retired the first five batters, but Grove City strung a few hits together and pushed a run across before Behrend could get out of the second inning.  Grove City starting pitcher Lauren Pennell was up for the challenge, scattering three Behrend hits across the first six innings as the Wolverines held a 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.  Behrend's Maddie Wieser (Erie/Collegiate Academy) led off with a single, but Pennell retired the next three to close out the complete game shutout for Grove City.

In game two Grove City again jumped out to an early lead, knocking out three hits in the top of the first to go ahead of Behrend 1-0.  Behrend would respond this time, as Kessi Osborne (Ellwood City/Riverside) and Mary DeMino (Wexford/North Allegheny) smacked hits to put runners on second and third. Jocelyn Dimpel (Wexford/North Allegheny) then stepped to the plate and singled both runners in as Behrend took a 2-1 lead.  That lead was shortlived as the Wolverines capitalized on two Behrend errors in the top of the second, scoring twice to take a 3-2 lead.  In the bottom of the inning, the blue and white tied it up when Laura Spiridon's (Warren/Warren) RBI double scored Ashley Gruber (Burton, OH/Berkshire).  Grove City broke it open in the top of the third, knocking the ball all over to score four runs on four hits and take a 7-3 lead.  Behrend got two back immediately in the bottom of the third to cut the Grove City lead to 7-5.  That would be all the scoring the blue and white would get and the Wolverines would tack on one more to make it a final of 8-5.  The Wolverines game one starter Pennell would earn the save as she came in the sixth and shut the Behrend bats down.

Behrend plays again at home on Saturday, April 24 against AMCC opponent Franciscan.  The doubleheader is set to begin early at 11:00 a.m.  Behrend will then host a conference doubleheader on Tuesday, April 27 against D'Youville.  Tuesday's games will be broadcast on the Image Sports Network.