Softball Takes Down Altoona Twice

ALTOONA, Pa. – Pitchers Kelsey Fuller (Albion, PA/Northwestern) and Rachel Miller (North East, PA/North East) only gave up one run each, while the Penn State Behrend softball team smacked 18 hits and scored 10 runs in an Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) doubleheader sweep of Penn State Altoona on Saturday afternoon.

The Lions (7-9, 4-0 AMCC) knocked Altoona (15-6, 4-2 AMCC) off the undefeated ranks in the conference with an 8-1 game-one decision and 2-1 win in the nightcap.

Fuller was dynamite offensive and defensively in the opener. She pitched seven innings, only allowing two hits and one run. At the plate, Fuller went 3-for-4 with two runs, an RBI and a solo home run. Amanda Krolczyk (Union City, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) also registered three hits on four chances, smacking a double and scoring two runs.

Behrend took a 4-0 lead after four innings and then sealed the deal with four runs in the top of the seventh. Maddie Mulig (Shaler, PA/Shaler) doubled up the middle in the first to score Fuller for a 1-0 lead. Two innings later, Julia Luke (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) singled through the right side to send home Mulig and Krolczyk for a 3-0 lead.

Fuller's homer came in the fourth for the only run to make it 4-0.

Altoona suffered three errors in the seventh, costing them four more runs. The Lions eventually got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh off a single to right field with one out.

Miller had big shoes to fill after Fuller's performance but had no problem filling them. The freshman also went the entire seven innings with just one run on nine hits and striking out two for her fourth win. Allania Banta (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) and Kelly Hedderick (Waterford, PA/Mercyhurst Prep) each had two hits. One of Hedderick's hits went over the fence for her second long ball of the season after recently getting her first against Hilbert on Wednesday.

Altoona struck first with a run in the opening frame. A double to left field knocked the runner in from first for a 1-0 lead. Banta helped Behrend knot the game at 1-all in the fifth. With two outs showing, Banta cranks out a triple to right center to score Fuller, who hit a double to get base.

Hedderick's home run in top of the sixth proved to be the game-winning hit and run in game two. She homered to left field for a 2-1 advantage that would stand through one more inning.

The Lions return to action tomorrow at Franciscan for an AMCC doubleheader, beginning at 1 p.m.