Softball Opens Season With a Pair of Wins

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Penn State Behrend softball team opened with season with back-to-back wins, defeating Wilmington 7-1 in the opener and then edging Alverno 9-8 in non-conference action on Sunday afternoon in Fort Myers, Florida.

The Lions (2-0) hit four home runs and combined for 20 hits on the day to head into day two of spring break with a pair of victories.

In game one, Behrend plated one run in the second and three in the third and fifth innings for the win. Amy Greene (Erie, PA/Strong Vincent) used her two hits wisely with a double and then a two-run homer. Kelsey Fuller (Albion, PA/Northwestern) also made her only hit count, smacking a three-run home run and finishing with four RBIs. 

Julie Heinl (Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny) pitched all seven innings for the win. She struck out seven and only allowed one run.

In game two, Spryce York (Rixford, PA/Otto Eldred) earned her first collegiate triple with one out in the second to start the scoring for the Lions. A 1-0 advantage turned into a 5-0 lead behind a three-run homer by Ashley Gruber (Burton, OH/Berkshire) and a long ball by Fuller in the third inning. Unfortunately, Alverno responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame to cut the lead to 5-3.

It only took four hits and a home run by the Inferno in the bottom of the sixth inning to take their first lead of the game.

Callie Markovich (Edinboro, PA/Northwestern) started off the final inning with a single to center field, before scoring an unearned run on an error and plating Gruber. After Fuller popped up, Gruber advanced to third on wild pitch and reached home on Alverno's second error of the inning and game for a 9-8 edge.

The inferno only had one hit in their last chance effort, giving the Lions their second win of the day.

Markovich ended the game 3-for-3 with two runs and a double, while Fuller got the win on the mound for Behrend.

The Lions return to action tomorrow against RIT and Bridgewater State.  Game one begins at 9 a.m.