Lions Sweep La Roche in Home Opener

ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend softball team defeated La Roche 8-1 and 6-0 in an Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) doubleheader on Sunday afternoon.

The Lions (11-11, 5-1 AMCC) shined in their home opener with a sweep over the Redhawks (9-15, 0-8 AMCC) and so did Kristen Kargol (Saegertown, PA/Cambridge Springs), who went 4-for-4 on the day and slammed her first collegiate home run in game one.

The hurler also had a day. AJ Nichols (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler) threw a three-hit shutout in the night cap while fanning seven and Rachel Miller (North East, PA/North East) was working on a no-hitter through four full innings and ended with allowing just two hits and one run for the win in the circle in game one.

In game one, Behrend had two four-run innings to almost force the eight-run rule in the fifth. Carson Hauser (Westfield, NY/Westfield Academy) started the third inning with a triple to left center and Nichols got her in with a ground out. Alexa Bupp (Warren, PA/Warren) and Shannon McDonnell (Fayston, VT/Harwood Union) each singled, before Kargol cleared the bases with a long ball to center field to make it 4-0.

The Lions followed up the third inning with another four-run inning in the fourth, but this time Behrend scored all four runs with two outs showing. Nichols, Bupp and Katie Gozzard (Pittsburgh, PA/Deer Lakes) all hit RBI doubles and McDonnell added an RIB single to right center to make it 8-0.

In the top of the fifth, La Roche added a run on a double by Shelby Oswald to score Josie Buckley, who reached on a fielder's choice.

In game two, the Lions scored a run in all but the first inning while holding the Redhawks off the scoreboard for the sweep. Bupp had a pair of doubles in the win.

Behrend started off with two runs in the bottom of the second. Gozzard walked and Kargol singled down right field line to send her to third. Gozzard scored on a passed ball, while Kelsey Heinrich (Brookville, PA/Brookville), who pinch ran for Kargol, came home on the second out for a 2-0 lead.

Bupp's double in the third added another run and Miller tallied the fourth run in the fourth on Allania Banta's (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) fielder's choice. The Lions got a run in the fifth and the final one in the sixth.

Jillian Williams (Corry, PA/Corry) tallied two hits along with Kargol and Bupp.

Behrend returns to action on Tuesday at Alfred. The doubleheader begins at 3:30 p.m.