Softball Splits Against Hilbert

ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend softball team split an Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) doubleheader with Hilbert, winning game one 11-3 in five innings and then falling in game two 5-4 on Wednesday.

Amy Greene (Erie, PA/Strong Vincent) had a 3-for-3 performance with three runs, two RBIs, two doubles and two runs to help the Lions (8-8, 3-1 AMCC) capture game one. Samantha Grismore (Westfield, NY/Westfield Academy Central) scored three runs and had two hits, including a triple.

Both teams brought the bats out early in the opener. The Hawks (3-6, 1-1 AMCC), who have scored a third of their runs in the first inning, put up three right away for the early lead. Behrend responded with five runs in the bottom of the frame to take the lead for good.

After the first out, the Lions had four consecutive hits with back-to-back doubles by Greene and Ashley Gruber (Burton, OH/Berkshire) to even the score at 3-all. A single from Kayla Miller (Springboro, PA/Conneaut Valley) knocked in Grismore and Greene for a 5-3 lead.

Behrend plated two runs in the third and four more in the bottom of the fourth to end the game in five innings. Julie Heinl (Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny) collected her second third straight win in the pitcher's circle. In five innings, she gave up four hits and one earned run.

Hilbert used a four-run fifth inning and an insurance run in the sixth to defeat the Lions for the first time since 2005. The Hawks only needed six hits to score five runs, getting a pair from lead-off hitter Jill Martucci. Devan Jonathan earned the win, pitching seven frames and striking out seven.

The first two runs of game belonged to Behrend. In the first inning, Gruber doubled to center field to score Kelsey Fuller (Albion, PA/Northwestern), who reached with a single and then stole second to get in a scoring position.  Leah Griffin (Springboro, PA/Conneaut Valley) followed in Gruber's footsteps in the second, smacking a double to send in Callie Markovitch (Edinboro, PA/Northwestern) for a 2-0 lead.

Faced with two outs in the fifth inning, Hilbert spit off four hits to generate four runs to take a 4-2 advantage.  The Hawks tagged on another in the sixth to force Behrend to score four runs in their last at-bat. The Lions came close and rallied to score two runs, falling short of the sweep.

Kelsey Fuller (Albion, PA/Northwestern) only surrendered one earned run in the loss, pitching seven innings and allowing six hits.

Behrend returns to action tomorrow against Grove City. The doubleheader begins at 3:30 p.m.