Banta Helps Lions Split in Florida

CLERMONT, FL – Allania Banta (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) went 5-for-7 with two doubles and an RBI to the Penn State Behrend softball team split a pair of games on the fourth day of competition in Clermont, Florida.

The Lions (3-5) recorded their third win of the season with 10-1 victory in five innings against Cedar Crest in game two. Behrend fell 3-1 to Misericordia in the opener.

Behrend plated nine runs in the first inning against Cedar Crest. The Lions began with a pair of singles by Sarah Blagg (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) and Banta, before getting another runner on base due to error. Behrend then drew three straight walks to score its first runs of the game.

The Lions added six more in the inning and another run in the second for a total of 10 runs. AJ Nichols (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler) was the winning pitcher, giving up just one hit and striking out seven.

Banta was a perfect 3-for-3 with two doubles in game one for Behrend. Misericorida took a 1-0 lead after the first inning. The Lions tied it up in the fifth with a run, but the Cougars added two runs in the bottom of the frame to take the lead for good.

In the fifth, Kelsey Heinrich (Brookville, PA/Brookville) singles to left field and then stole second. Rachel Miller (North East, PA/North East) walked for two runners on. Blagg hit a sac bunt to advance Miller and Heinrich. Banta then singled to right field to send home Heinrich for the lone run of the game for Behrend.

Miller pitched 4.1 innings and gave up three earned runs and struck out six.

The Lions return to action tomorrow against Bethany and Alfred. Games are at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.