ALFRED, NY – No. 12 Rowan scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning with two outs to defeat Penn State Behrend 2-0 in the first round of the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament on Friday afternoon held at Alfred University.

Beth Ann Hyland and Allison Nolan combined to throw a five-hit shut out. Hyland picked up the win and struck out eight along the way. Alyssa Sims hit the eventual game-winning RBI single to center to plate two runners with bases loaded for the only two runs of the game.

Sarah Blagg (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) had two hits, while Alexa Bupp (Warren, PA/Warren) and Leah Griffin (Springboro, PA/Conneaut Valley) belted a double for the Lions (25-15). The two singles in the fourth inning were the only hits the Profs (37-6) managed off Behrend starter Rachel Miller (North East, PA/North East), who went six innings and struck out two.

In the fourth, Morgan Smith walked leading off and pinch runner Rosalie Hood moved to second on a groundout. One out later, pinch hitter Sara Finnegan was hit by a pitch to put runners and first and second. Pinch hitter Amanda Toomer singled to load the bases before Sims plated Hood and Finnegan with a single to center for a 2-0 lead.

The Lions left a total of seven runners stranded over the seven innings, including two in the first and two in the third.

Behrend returns to action tomorrow against Lebanon Valley at 1:30 p.m. in the elimination game.