Softball Falls Twice on Day Three in Florida

CLERMONT, FL – The Penn State Behrend softball team dropped a pair of games on the third day of competition in Clermont, Florida. The Lions fell to Manhattanville 9-5 and then lost to WPI 3-0 in game two on Tuesday.

Sarah Blagg (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) tallied four hits on the day and Katie Gozzard (Pittsburgh, PA/Deer Lakes) tallied her first collegiate home run in game one for the Lions (2-4).

In the opener, Manhattanville used six extra-base hits, including a home run to register 13 hits for nine runs. The Valiants scored seven runs in the final three innings to erase a one-run deficit.

After Blagg doubled to lead off, AJ Nichols (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler) singles to knock her in for a 1-0 lead. Manhattanville responded with two runs in the bottom of the second.

Behrend took its first and only lead of the game with a pair of runs in the fourth. Ali Kaliszewski (Erie, PA/Iroquois) singled and Gozzard blasted one over the fence for a two-run homer and a 3-2 advantage.

With two hits and two runs in the bottom of the fourth, the Valiants regained a 4-3 lead and kept adding on with three run in the fifth and two more in the sixth.

Madison Zimmer (Carnegie, PA/Chartiers Valley) pitched 4.2 innings to start and struck out two for the loss.

In the nightcap, Kelsey Saucier threw and eight-hit shutout to help WPI earn a 3-0 victory. In those eight hits for the Lions, they left 10 runners stranded. Rachel Miller (North East, PA/North East) suffered the loss, giving up seven hits and striking out six.

Blagg and Allania Banta (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) each had a pair of hits. WPI used a home run in the first to get on the scoreboard and then tallied two doubles in the third inning to complete the scoring.

Behrend returns to action on Thursday against Misericordia and Cedar Crest at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., respectively.