SOFTBALL DAY 1: UPG, PSA ADVANCE TO WINNERS BRACKET

The 2025 AMCC softball championship tournament kicked off Friday on the campus of Pitt-Bradford.  Although the Panthers were the #5 seed, an administrative decision to revamp the tournament format due to weather moved the venue from the sites of the highest seeds to Bradford.

Game 1 saw #3 seed Pitt-Greensburg win a tight battle with #6 Hilbert College, 3-1.  1B Mckenzie Lamb got the Bobcats going with a 2 run single in the third, and Hunter Taylor had a solo shot over the fence in the 5th to help build a 3-0 lead.  2B Jazlynn Soliz put the Hawks on the board with an RBI in the 8th, driving in RF Brooke Feliciano but that was all the offense Hilbert could manufacture for the game. Autumn Powell earned the complete game win for UPG.

In Game 2, #4 seed and defending champion Penn State Behrend d. #5 Pitt-Bradford, 8-0, for a run rule decision in the 5th inning.  A 2 run HR by OF Sierra Williams in the third inning opened up a 3-0 lead for Behrend.  Abby Tingley got the win in the circle.

Pitt-Greensburg continued their winning ways in Game 3, upsetting #2 Mount Aloysius College.  The contest was scoreless through 4 innings until Tayor again stepped up with a solo home run in the 5th inning, and then touching home plate in the 6th on a hit by Madyson Hart.  P Melanie Mienke struck out 7 to pace the Bobcats' defense. The Mounties' LF Maya Capozolli drove in 1B Sophie Smith in the 7th inning but the rally fell short.

The final match up of the day saw #1 Penn State Altoona against Behrend.  The scoring lead changed hands three times throughout the game with Penn St. Altoona striking early in the first inning only to have the run matched by Behrend in the second.  Behrend LF Karma Malcolm homered in the 4th, driving in Sierra Williams to create a 3-1 gap.  But the following frame the Altoona Lions took the lead for good as CF Madison Kennedy cleared the bases with a shot over the left field fence, bringing home Sidney Nihart and Karli Storm for a 4-3 final score.

Action continues Saturday. Starting the day will be two elimination games, with Pitt-Bradford facing Hilbert at 9a and Mount Aloysius vs. Penn St. Behrend scheduled to follow at approximately 11a.  Pitt-Greensburg will take the field at approximately 1p, taking on Penn St. Altoona. 

The winner of the tournament will earn the AMCC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament.