ERIE, Pa. – Due to field conditions, La Roche softball was forced to hit the road to face Penn State Behrend, rather than host the Lions. In game one, a late surge pushed Behrend past the Redhawks 5-0, while in game two, despite jumping ahead, the Redhawks couldn't hold on, falling 11-2.
GAME ONE: Penn State Behrend 7 La Roche 0
Through four innings of play, the score stayed scoreless, as the pitchers were highlighting the early stage of the game.
The bottom of the fifth saw the Lions bring across four runs to take the lead, then tacked on three more in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 7-0 game, the eventual final.
Emma Kaufman got the nod for La Roche and in 5.1 innings allowed six runs (three earned), eight hits and struck out one.
Kynnydy Lewis pitched 0.2 inning of relief and allowing a run and two hits.
Offensively, Maura Wade's second inning single, as well as Ashtin Hoover and Garrah Milochik's seventh inning singles were the only three hits for the Redhawks.
GAME TWO: Penn State Behrend 11 La Roche 2 F/6
Game two opened with La Roche pulling through for its first runs of the day, but would unfortunately be its only, as errors were a huge factor.
Milochik opened the scoring in the top of the first as her RBI single scored Maura Wade to make it 1-0.
Makenzie Formeck followed with an RBI single of her own to score Emma Bizay and up the edge to 2-0.
Behrend would go on to trim the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the first, before taking the lead, 4-2, with three runs in the bottom of the second.
Four runs crossed for the Lions in the bottom of inning number four to build an 8-2 edge, then in the bottom of the sixth, three more runs were plated to end the game.
In game two, Maura Wade tossed four innings in the start allowing eight runs, but only one run was earned. She also allowed six hits and walked two.
Klover Haberthier pitched 1.1 innings, allowing three runs (two earned), three hits, one walk and fanned one.
Altogether, only three of 11 runs allowed by La Roche pitching were earned runs.
Offensively, the Redhawks racked up seven hits, as seven different batters collected a single.
La Roche must quickly turn its attention to its next doubleheader, that takes place tomorrow, Sunday, Apr. 13 when it hosts Penn State Altoona. Opening pitch for game one is slated for 1 p.m.