BEAVER FALLS, Pa.- The Geneva softball team posted a pair of non-conference victories over Penn State Behrend, 6-2 and 4-3, on Thursday afternoon.
The Golden Tornadoes (6-7) scored four runs in the final two innings of game two to sweep the Lions (3-9). In game one, Behrend grabbed a 2-1 lead after the second inning, but Geneva tied the contest in the third and then used four runs in the fifth inning to take a 6-2 lead that would stand.
In the opener, Maddie Mulig (Shaler, PA/Shaler) was the only player with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 in the opener. She also scored one of the two runs. Rachel Miller (North East, PA/North East) pitched the entire contest, giving up only two earned runs on 10 hits while striking out three on the hill.
In the inning where Behrend got both runs, Mulig started with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Leah Griffin (Springboro, PA/Conneaut Valley) hit the ball to center field and Mulig scored on an error for a 1-0 lead. Griffin then scored on another error with Sydney Sherrieb (Washington, PA/Trinity) up to bat to take a two-run edge into the bottom of the frame.
The Lions scored all three runs of game two in the fifth inning. Amanda Krolczyk (Union City, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) led Behrend with two hits and she also took the loss on the mound. She struck out a season-high eight batters and gave up four earned runs, including three in the bottom of the seventh.
In the fifth, the Lions scored three runs on three hits for a solid lead. After Kelsey Heinrich (Brookville, PA/Brookville) walked, Sherrieb doubled to center field to get two runners on base. Heinrich scored on the grounder by Kelsey Fuller (Albion, PA/Northwestern) and Allania Banta (Waterford, PA/Mercyhurst Prep) knocked in the second double of the inning to bring in Sherrieb. Krolczyk sent Banta home on a single to center for a three-run advantage with two and a half innings left
The Golden Tornadoes were able to get a run in the bottom of the sixth to make it 3-1 and then scored three more in the final frame for the win.
With two outs and the winning run on third, Christina Fugua singled to right field to send in Lucia Fee for the game-winning run.
The Lions return to action on Monday against Westminster. The first game of the doubleheader begins at 3:30 p.m.
