HAMBURG, NY – The Hilbert softball team collected a pair of Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) wins over Penn State Behrend, posting a 12-11 eight-inning victory and a 7-5 decision on Sunday afternoon.

The Hawks (5-3, 3-3 AMCC) battled back from a 10-4 deficit in the opening win, forcing extra innings and getting a game-winning  single by Crystal Hailey in the bottom of the eighth. Hilbert earned another come-from-behind win in game two to sweep the Lions (7-13, 3-5 AMCC) for the first time since joining the AMCC in 2004.

In the opener, the Hawks had four doubles on 15 hits and scored 12 runs for the win. Natalie Whitman came in as relief and got the win, pitching four and two thirds inning with five strikeouts and no earned runs.

Kelly Hedderick (Waterford, PA/Mercyhurst) had a monster day at the plate, smashing two three-run homers. She had one in the first inning to give Behrend a 3-0 lead and then got her second in the five-run fourth inning. Chelsi Riordan (Conneaut Valley, PA/Linesville) also hit a long ball in the fourth, scoring two.

Hilbert answered with five runs of their own and then tying the game after recording a run in the sixth.

Kelsey Fuller (Albion, PA/Northwestern) scored the potential game-winning run after being placed on second in the tiebreaker rules, then stealing third and scoring on a passed ball. The Hawks were able to score two runs in the bottom of the frame for the dramatic win.

In game two, Hilbert rallied from two runs down to score five in the final two innings to complete the sweep. Jaelyn Gotham gave up nine hits and two earned runs while striking out seven for the win in the circle.

Hedderick, who got the loss in the first game after three innings of work, also pitched the entire second game and fanned a season-best 10 batters.

Mirrissa Parker (Saegertown, PA/Saegertown) led Behrend with a 3-for-4 showing. She also tallied a run and an RBI. Sydney Sherrieb (Washington, PA/Trinity) had a pair of hits.

The Lions return to action on Tuesday at Westminster. The doubleheader begins at 3:30 p.m.