Miller Shuts Out Altoona in AMCC Tournament

BUFFALO, NY – Rachel Miller (North East, PA/North East) threw her fourth straight shutout, only allowing two hits to help the Penn State Behrend softball team past Penn State Altoona 3-0 in the first game of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Tournament on Friday afternoon.

The Lions (22-13), the winners of 10 straight games, will face the winner of hosts D'Youville and fourth-seed La Roche tomorrow at 1 p.m. for the second day of the championships.

Behrend broke through the Altoona Lions (25-12) defense in the bottom of the fifth inning. With Miller on first and two outs, the Lions managed to knock in two runs to get on the scoreboard. Allania Banta (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) walked leading up to Krolczyk's eventual game-winning RBI single to center field to score Miller. Shannon McDonnell (Fayston, VT/Harwood Union) tallied the second hit to bring home Banta for a 2-0 lead.

Miller was flawless until the top of the sixth where AMCC defending champions got both hits, but never threatened to score.

With bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth, Sarah Blagg (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) grounded out to the short stop bring Julia Luke (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) off third and home to make it 3-0.

Miller got three quick outs in the seventh to stay undefeated in the conference tournament.

Luke, who scored the insurance run, finished with a pair of hits along with McDonnell.

The Lions return to action tomorrow in the double-elimination tournament. Game will begin approximately 1 p.m.