Softball Defeats Pitt-Greensburg

ERIE, Pa. – Ashley Gruber went a combined 4-for-6 with four RBIs, two doubles and two runs to help the Penn State Behrend softball team sweep Pitt-Greensburg 7-2 and 12-2 in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action on Friday afternoon.

Julie Heinl was the winning pitcher in game one for the Lions (10-11, 7-5 AMCC), giving up one earned run and striking out three. Kelsey Fuller collected her fifth win on the mound in the nightcap, shutting down the Bobcats (4-20, 0-10 AMCC) in five innings.

In game one, Behrend took a 2-0 lead after scoring a run in the opening frame and the bottom of the second. Pitt-Greensburg made it 2-1 in the fifth, but the Lions scored three runs on five hits on the next at bat for a 5-1 advantage.

Heinl doubled to left field to start the fifth and advanced to third on a passed ball, before scoring on Marissa Lisanti's single. Lisanti stole second and Morgan sent her home on a hit to right center. Greene got on base with a single and Samantha Grismore knocked in Morgan.

Greene's single in the sixth scored Heinl and Griffin to make it 7-1. Pitt-Greensburg managed to tack on another run in the seventh for the final margin.

Fuller helped the Lions escape an early lead by the Bobcats in game two, striking out the final batter with bases loaded. Behrend got on the board in the bottom of the frame and made the most out of the second inning, using six hits to score eight runs for a commanding 9-0 lead.

The Lions had a chance to add three more runs in the third. Chelsi Riordan reached on a single and advanced on Griffin's sacrifice bunt. Greene her second double of the day to score Riordan, before Kayla Miller singled to put two on. Gruber's two-base hit scored Miller and Griffin for a 12-2 lead that would stand.

Riordan finished game two with a 3-for-4 performance, two runs and an RBI.

Behrend returns to action Sunday against Washington & Jefferson. The doubleheader begins at 1 p.m.