NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The Westminster softball team posted an 8-1 game-one win and then tallied a 9-8 eight-inning victory in game two to sweep Penn State Behrend in non-conference action on Thursday afternoon.
Down 8-7 in the nightcap, the Titans (10-6) scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth for the extra-inning win. With a runner on first and second, Kailey Liverman doubled to center field to score Hannah Ritter and then on the second out, Westminster scored on a throwing error for the 9-8 decision.
The Lions (6-10) rallied back from a four-run deficit after the fourth inning with two runs in the sixth and two runs in the seventh, before taking an 8-7 lead in the top of the eighth. Allania Banta (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBeouf), who went 4-for-5 with three RBI, singled to center field to bring in Kelsey Heinrich (Brookville, PA/Brookville) off second for the one-run edge with Westminster getting one last chance at bat.
Behrend smacked 15 hits to generate eight runs over the eight innings, never holding the lead until the final frame. Shannon McDonnell (Fayston, VT/Harwood Union) and AJ Nichols (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler) each tallied two hits with two RBIs.
One of Banta's hits was a two-run homer in the sixth for the Lions. Jillian Williams (Corry, PA/Corry) started game two in the circle and Alexa Bupp (Warren, PA/Warren) finished the final four innings, taking the loss with three hits and one earned run while striking out five.
In game one, the Titans scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to add to their 3-1 lead for a seven-run victory.
Courtney Cohen led Westminster with two hits, a double and a home run.
Banta and Lacey Hilderbrand (Pittsburgh, PA/North Allegheny) each tallied two hits for Behrend. Nichols pitched five innings and struck out four in the loss.
The Lions registered their only run in the top of the fourth on a double to right center from Bupp to send home Nichols to make it 2-1 in the game.
Behrend returns to action on Saturday at Pitt-Greensburg. Games begin at 1 and 3 p.m.
