Behrend Softball Drops Two in AMCC Doubleheader Versus D'Youville

The Penn State Behrend Lions softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader against the D'Youville Spartans in an AMCC showdown at the Behrend field on Tuesday, April 27.  The blue and white were defeated by D'Youville 2-1 in game one and 5-4 in game two.

In the first game pitching was the key through the first three innings as Behrend starter Emma Hahn (Smethport/Smethport) kept the Spartan hitters in check early.  Hahn also provided the first hit for the blue and white coming in the bottom of the third on a double lined to right field.  There were runners on first and second when Mary DeMino (Wexford/North Allegheny) hit a grounder to the D'Youville shortstop who bobbled the ball and could not record an out to fill the bases full of Behrend Lions.  A groundout to second base ended any threat of the blue and white scoring first.

The top of the fourth was the turning point in the game as the Spartans led off the inning with a bunt single and another base hit to follow as that put runners on first and second with zero outs.  Hahn would get the next two batters and with two outs Hahn would receive a ground ball and made a costly throwing error to allow two D'Youville runners to score and put the Spartans up 2-0.  The blue and white would get on the board in the sixth as DeMino would lead off with a single and got to second with one out.  Junior Maddie Wieser (Erie/Collegiate Academy) would rip a single up the middle and plate DeMino to cut the lead to 2-1.  Behrend's rally would fall short though and D'Youville starting pitcher Kristen Deschenes would record her third win of the season.

In game two the Spartans jumped out to an early lead when a leadoff triple followed by a wild pitch gave the visitors a 1-0 lead.  The score was unchanged until Behrend got a big swing in the bottom of the fifth from Morgan Griffin (Springboro/Conneaut Valley) who came to the plate with 2-outs and the bases loaded before doubling in all three runners.  Behrend held that 3-1 lead until the bottom of the second when DeMino's sacrifice fly brought home another runner for a 4-1 Behrend lead.

D'Youville (6-24, 5-13) put together a dramatic rally in the top of the seventh using a hit batter and five singles to bring in four runs.  The game-winning hit came courtesy of Gabby Lathrop who stepped to the plate with Behrend leading 4-3 before she singled to drive in two runners and put D'Youville up 5-4.  Behrend could not rally in the bottom of the inning as D'Youville shut the door and completed the sweep. 

Behrend falls to 16-18 overall and 7-9 in AMCC play.  The blue and white are fighting for the sixth and final AMCC playoff spot.  The team will host La Roche on Thursday, April 29 in a key conference doubleheader as La Roche is currently 7-7 in AMCC play.