Lion Cruise Into AMCC Championship

ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend softball team defeated Penn State Altoona 9-1 on Saturday afternoon in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Championship Tournament.

With the win, the Lions (25-13) will try to earn their fifth AMCC title.

Behrend came out fast with five runs in the first two innings to get by the Lions.  After Julie Heinl (Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny) walked with one out in the first, Ashley Gruber (Burton, OH/Berkshire) left the yard for her eighth home run of the year.  Samantha Grismore (Westfield, NY/Westfield Academy & Central) kept the inning alive with a two-out RBI triple to put the Lions up 3-0.

In the second, Behrend got another two-out hit to push two more across.  Gruber smashed a two-run double to right center to extend the Lions' lead to five.

After a scoreless third, Behrend put up three more in the fourth.  This time, Callie Markovich (Edinboro, PA/Northwestern) hit a frozen rope to right field for two RBIs. With a comfortable lead, Heinl was cruising in the circle.  Heinl threw a complete game while giving up just one unearned run.  In the sixth, Markovich ended the game early with her fourth hit of the game to extend the advantage to eight.

Markovich was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs.  Gruber had three hits in the game to go along with four RBIs.

The Lions will face Penn State Altoona in a rematch tomorrow for the AMCC Championship.  First pitch is set for 10 a.m.