Kirik Leads Lions Past Houghton

ERIE, Pa. – Freshman Katie Kirik (Union City, PA/Union City) hit .800 in two games, going 4-for-5 with one run and two RBIs to lead the Penn State Behrend softball team past Houghton 10-5 and 3-0 in non-conference action on Tuesday.

Stacey Herzog (Smethport, PA/Smethport) also had four hits, including a triple, for the Lions (13-17), who extended their winning streak to four games.  

It was Herzog that started things off in the opener with a three bagger on her first at bat and facing two outs to knock in Kelsey Fuller (Albion, PA/Northwestern) and Kelly Hedderick (Waterford, PA/Mercyhurst Prep). Herzog made it 3-0 after scoring on an error.

The Highlanders (1-19) took the lead after scoring two runs in the second and two more in the fourth.

Behrend took the lead for good with a five-run, three-hit inning in the fifth. The Lions also took advantage of three errors to go ahead 8-4. Another two runs were scored in the sixth by Behrend on an error by the shortstop for a 10-5 final.

Heinl earned her seventh win in the circle in game one. She threw all seven innings and gave up four earned runs, while striking out six.

The Lions waited to get on the board until the fifth inning and then only needed two frames to get their runs in game two.  

Leah Griffin (Springboro, PA/ Conneaut Lake) started the bottom of the fifth with a single up the middle and Kirik followed with another hit to get two runners on with one out. Sydney Sherrieb (Washington, PA/Trinity) doubled to knock both runners in for a 2-0 lead.

Kayla Frawley (Cranberry, PA/Cranberry) flied out to centerfield to send Herzog home for the final run in the sixth inning.

Fuller went from shortstop to pitcher, throwing a complete-game shutout in the nightcap. She allowed just five hits and struck out three.

The Lions will look to continue the winning streak on Thursday against Medaille.  The AMCC doubleheader begins at 3 p.m.