Behrend Softball Opens Season in Florida; Lions Defeat Regis

CLERMONT, FL – The Penn State Behrend softball team split a pair of non-conference games to start the season over spring break in Clermont, Florida. The Lions defeated Regis 11-4 and fell to North Central, 5-4.

Game One: Penn State Behrend 11, Regis 4
Records: Penn State Behrend (1-0), Regis (1-0)

Key Moments:

* Hurler Julia Jones (Wilcox, PA/Johnsonburg) earned her first collegiate win in the circle, pitching three innings and fanning seven
* As a team, Behrend managed 11 runs on 13 hits with six extra-base hits
* The Lions scattered 11 runs over four innings, scoring two runs in the fourth to take the lead for good
* Behrend had five players with two hits apiece
* Sierra Williams (Grove City, PA/Lakeview) and Chloe Nale (Aliquippa, PA/Hopewell) each registered a triple
* Izabel Pozar (Flagstaff, AZ/Coconino), Jocelyn McNany (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley), Jones and Athena Iverson (Pittsburgh, PA/The Ellis School) each smacked a double on the day
* Pozar, Iverson and Nale each knocked in a pair of runs
* Lauren Rabanal (San Diego, CA/Westview) came in relief for Jones, pitching four innings and striking out two and allowing two runs

Game Two: North Central 5, Penn State Behrend 4
Records: Penn State Behrend (1-1), North Central (2-3)

Key Moments:

* The Cardinals bounced back from a 1-0 deficit after the top of the first inning to score four runs in the bottom of the frame to make the difference
* The Lions added three runs in the fifth to cut the lead by one run
* North Central tallied five runs on 14 hits to collect its second win
* McNany went 3-for-4 with a double and her first home run of the season
* In the first, Pozar led off with a single to second and Petitte got hit by a pitch
* McNany smacked a double to left field to score Pozar for a 1-0 lead
* The Cardinals answered with four runs ad then added another in the third for a 5-1 advantage
* Behrend rallied in the fifth, getting three runs on three hits
* Hannah Smith (Harborcreek, PA/Harbor Creek) singled and Pozar got her second hit before McNany homered to center field to make it, 5-4
* After the top of the fifth, each team registered a pair of hits but did not generate anymore runs for a final one-run game
* Alexia Brown (Wexford, PA/Pine-Richland) added two hits for the Lions
* Abby Tingley (Union City, PA/Union City) started in the circle and pitched a complete game, giving up four earned runs and striking out four

Up Next:

* The Lions return to action tomorrow with matchups against Washington College and Kean. Game times are scheduled for 9 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.