ERIE, Pa. – Sophomore hurler Rachel Miller (North East, PA/North East) threw her consecutive shut-out victory and knocked in the game-winning run in a 1-0 decision over D'Youville in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) action on Tuesday.
After a thrilling 10-inning game one victory, the Lions (11-11, 8-2 AMCC) fell 2-1 in eight innings in the nightcap. Miller allowed just five hits over a span of 10 innings for her seventh win this season, improving her ERA to 1.37.
Behrend left 10 runners stranded through the course of the first game, before plating the winning run in the top of the 10th inning. With international tiebreaker rules in place, Leah Griffin (Springboro, PA/Conneaut Valley) was put on second to start the frame. Kelsey Heinrich (Brookville, PA/Brookville) got Griffin to third before Miller stepped to the plate. Miller singled to score Griffin for a 1-0 lead.
The Spartans (15-7, 8-2 AMCC) had one last chance at bat, but Miller got her 10th strikeout of the game and Behrend defense got two more outs to hold the runner at third for the win.
Shannon McDonnell (Fayston, VT/Harwood Union) had two hits in the opener and Amanda Krolczyk (Union City, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) drew two walks.
Game two also proved to be a pitchers' dual with Kalie McHenry from D'Youville outlasting Alexa Bupp (Warren, PA/Warren) while the defense held the Lions to just two hits and one run.
Behrend got on the board first in the third inning. Miller reached on a fielder's choice and Sarah Blagg (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) doubled to bring Miller home for a 1-0 lead.
After three scoreless innings, the Spartans tie the game with a run in the sixth. Identical to how the Lions scored, D'Youville doubled with one out to score pitcher McHenry.
Spartans loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth inning, before walking in the game-winning run Amanda Drake.
Bupp struck out eight batters and allowed six hits and two earned runs in the circle.
Behrend returns to action on tomorrow at Buffalo State. The doubleheader begins at 3:30 p.m.
