BUFFALO, NY – The Penn State Behrend softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with Buffalo State, winning game one 5-3 and then falling 5-2 in the nightcap on Wednesday afternoon.
In the opener, the Lions (12-12) broke a 3-all tie with two runs in the top of the seventh inning to defeat the Tigers (12-11). Leah Griffin (Springboro, PA/Conneaut Valley) tallied two hits to give her 100 hits for her career, becoming the 22nd player in program history to accomplish this feat.
Shannon McDonnell (Fayston, VT/Harwood Union) also posted two hits in the form of doubles, starting in the fifth inning. With two outs showing and two runners on, McDonnell smacked a double to right center to score Sarah Blagg (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) to make it 1-0.
Alexa Bupp (Warren, PA/Warren) followed with a double to center field to knock Holly Miller and McDonnell in for a 3-0 advantage.
Buffalo State answered with three runs of their own thanks to a home run by Stephanie Novo to even the score at 3-all.
The same three that started the fifth inning started the seventh. Holly Miller walked and McDonnell doubled to advance her to third. Bupp hit a sacrifice fly to get home Miller at 4-3. The second out was recorded and Griffin got her 100th hit up the middle to score McDonnell for the insurance run.
Rachel Miller (North East, PA/North East) started the game and pitched four innings, before Amanda Krolczyk (Union City, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) came in relief and for the win. She pitched two and two third innings and gave up four hits and no runs for her second victory in the circle.
The Tigers were able to score five early runs, before allowing the Lions on the board and hold on for the 5-2 win in game two.
Behrend tallied five hits, including McDonnell's team-leading seventh home run of the season. Her two-run long ball in the fourth inning is the only time the Lions would plate runs in the nightcap. Krolczyk reached on an error and then scored off McDonnell's homer to make it 5-2.
From there, Behrend scattered two more hits in the final three innings but it did not generate a comeback attempt.
Bupp threw five innings for the Lions, striking out four and allowing seven hits and four earned runs for the loss.
Behrend returns to action on Saturday at La Roche. Game times are 1 and 3 p.m.
