Softball Sweeps Pitt-Bradford

BRADFORD, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend softball team remains undefeated in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) play, sweeping Pitt-Bradford 8-4 and 11-8 in a doubleheader on Thursday afternoon.

In game one, the Lions (7-9, 4-0 AMCC) hit three home runs including two in the seven-run fourth inning thanks to Amanda Krolczyk (Union City, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) and Shannon McDonnell (Fayston, VA/Harwood Union).  Krolczyk finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs, while Sarah Blagg (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) went 3-for-5 in the opener.

In the big fourth inning, Behrend scored all seven runs with two outs showing. Kelsey Heinrich (Brookville, PA/Brookville) tripled to right center for the first hit to knock in Leah Griffin (Springboro, PA/Conneaut Valley), who got on base with an error.

Heinrich then scored on wild pitch, and Rachel Miller (North East, PA/North East) and Blagg each singled. Allania Banta (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) hit a single to left field to send home Miller and Krolczyk stepped up to knock in the remaining runners with a long ball to make it 6-0. The next at-bat McDonnell smacked a solo home run and the Lions tallied two more hits in the inning before getting their third out.  

The Panthers had two runs in the fifth and Megan Hilliard got them two more runs in the sixth with a home run to cut the lead to 7-4.

Griffin started off the top of the final inning with her first home run of the season for the final 8-4 margin in game one. Miller collected the win in the hill, striking out seven and giving up three hits.

The home runs kept coming in game two for Behrend. The Lions had another big inning where they scored six runs in the fifth to take the lead for good. Blagg went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a home run, while Julia Luke (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) tallied her first home run in a 3-for-5 outing with three RBIs.

Behrend took a 10-3 lead after finishing the top of the fifth frame. After getting on the board in the second inning with one run, the Lions scored twice on three hits in the third behind singles from Krolczyk, Luke and Griffin.

Luke homered to right field to begin the top of the fifth. Blagg followed with her home run to score Holly Miller (Harborcreek, PA/Harbor Creek) and Heinrich. Banta then singles to center field and got home on an error during McDonnell's plate appearance. Luke got her second RBI of the inning with a single to right field to score McDonell to make it 10-3.

Pitt-Bradford started the comeback in the fourth inning with two home runs, before adding five more runs in the fifth to get within two.

Behrend added an unearned insurance run in the top of the seventh and the defense held the Panthers to one hit at the bottom of the frame for the win.

Alexa Bupp (Warren, PA/Warren) pitched her way to the win and Natalie Brock (Cochranton, PA/Cochranton) came in to complete the final two innings in the circle.

Behrend returns to action on Saturday at Penn State Altoona. The doubleheader begins at 1 p.m.