READING, Pa. – The Alverina softball team scored two runs in the fourth inning to break a 3-all tie and defeat Penn State Behrend 5-3 in the first round of the ECAC South Region Tournament on Wednesday afternoon.
With two outs and one runner on in the bottom of the fourth, Aly Shilling and Alexa Banks hit back-to-back doubles to send in two runs including the game winner to help the Crusaders (21-14) advance to the ECAC semifinals hosted by Misericordia this weekend.
Kelly Hedderick (Waterford, PA/Mercyhurst Prep) led the Lions (20-17) with a pair of hits and two RBIs. Shannon McDonnell (Fayston, VT/Harwood Union) posted an RBI double, while Kelsey Fuller (Albion, PA/Northwestern) pitched 4.1 innings and allowed nine hits with five runs for the loss.
Behrend took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning thanks to Hedderick's triple with one out showing. McDonnell followed with the two-base hit to score Hedderick for the early advantage.
Alvernia responded in the bottom of the frame with three runs behind a two RBI single from Brianna Kuhn before she scored on an error to make it 3-1.
The Lions tied it in the third with two runs on three hits. Sydney Sherrieb (Washington, PA/Trinity) singled through the right side and advanced to second on Allania Banta's (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) hit to the pitcher. Maddie Mulig (Shaler, PA/Shaler) walked to load the bases and Hedderick knocked in Sherrieb and Banta with a single to left field.
The Crusaders tallied the winning runs win the fourth and held Behrend scoreless after the third inning behind the pitching of Brittanie Wolfe. Wolfe also gave up nine hits and struck out one for her 13th win in the circle.
