Softball Splits Against Medaille in AMCC Opener

BUFFALO, NY – The Penn State Behrend softball team split their opening Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) doubleheader against Medaille, falling 1-0 and then posting a 12-6 win in game two on Wednesday afternoon at Dobson Field on the campus of D'Youville.

The Lions (10-6, 1-1 AMCC) were just two hits shy of their season best with 15, including seven extra-base hits to generate 12 runs to earn the game-two win. The Mavericks (8-6, 1-1 AMCC) managed to score the game-winning run in the bottom of the third for a 1-0 victory in the opener.

Alexa Bupp (Warren, PA/Warren) came in relief in game two and recorded the win in four innings of work. She fanned four and only allowed two hits. Carson Hauser (Westfield, NY/Westfield Academy) went 4-for-5 with three runs. Bupp and Kristen Kargol (Saegertown, PA/Cambridge Springs) each smacked a triple.

Medaille grabbed a quick 2-0 lead in the first, before Behrend plated five runs in the second for a three-run lead. The Mavericks regained the lead with four runs in the second to go ahead 6-5, but the Lions scattered seven more runs over the next five innings while holding Medaille scoreless for the split.

In the top of the third, Angela Dale (Clinton, PA/West Allegheny) reached on an error and advanced to second on the throw to score Jillian Williams (Corry, PA/Corry) and the eventual game winner in Marissa Torretti (DuBois, PA/DuBois).

Behrend scored in each inning except the sixth to pull away from Medaille and avenge the one-run loss in game one.

It was a tale of two games. A total of nine hits combined made up game one. The Mavericks went three and out except for a walk to start the next, followed by three strikeouts by AJ Nichols (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler). With two outs showing in the bottom of the third, Sharon Trigilio singled to left field and then scored the game winner on a triple by Mercedes Sulzbach.

Medaille only had two more hits after getting on the board. Lauren Kratzke, who also pitched in game two, got her seventh win of the season in the complete game. Nichols struck out eight batters and allowed four hits with one run for the loss in the circle.

Lauren Wentz (Grove City, PA/Grove City) led Behrend with a perfect 3-for-3 showing and Nichols smacked a double when at the plate.

The Lions return to action on Saturday at La Roche. The AMCC doubleheader begins at 1 p.m.