The Penn State Behrend softball team won their ninth AMCC Championship with a doubleheader sweep of Mount Aloysius College on Saturday. The Lions defeated the Mounties, 2-0 and 1-0 and will receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
Game 1: Penn State Behrend 2, Mount Aloysius 0
In game one, Behrend took down the Mt. Aloysius Mounties, 2-0. The Lions tallied their first two hits of the game in the fourth, but were unable to score a run. Marissa Torretti led off the sixth inning with a bunt in front of home plate, making her way to first. Kylee Bundy followed suit with a single to second and an error on the second baseman to advance and send Torretti to third. With two on and no outs, Mackenzie McIntire laid down a bunt straight ahead to send Torretti home to score the go ahead run. Behrend went on to score one more run in the sixth to finish the game, 2-0. Ashleigh Schmidt tallied the win on the mound, as she pitched six shutout innings and struck out seven batters. Maria Jones pitched the seventh inning to tally a save and secure the Lions victory.
Game 2: Penn State Behrend 1, Mount Aloysius
Behrend won the second game of the series against Mounties, 1-0 to secure the AMCC Championship. Game two was scoreless until the Lions scored the lone run in the fifth inning. With one out in the fifth, senior Kaylene Chaffee came in as a pitch hitter. Chaffee hit a double to left center, the Lions only extra-base hit of the doubleheader. Kayla Salvini followed Chaffee with a single, advancing the runner to third. Dale came up to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly to left field to send Chaffee home and score the go ahead run. The Lions continued to hold down Mt. Aloysius and finished the game with a 1-0 victory. Kayla Lindberg pitched the complete game giving up just four hits in seven innings, as she tallied her eighth win of the season.
Penn State Behrend will host the NCAA Regional May 21-23. Game times and opponents will be announced at a later date.
All-Tournament Team
Penn State Behrend: Marissa Torretti, Mackenzie McIntire, Angela Dale
Mount Aloysius: Tawnya Holben, Madison Hillard, Lexi Wilt
Penn State Altoona: Olivia Smith, Jayde Burge
La Roche: Alexa Young, Ashtin Hoover
Medaille: Gabby Presutti, April Chambers
Pitt-Greensburg: Brittany Dunn, Ashley Noel
Pitt-Bradford: Gabby Carpenter, Kerrigan Hoffman
Alfred State: Kailey Wonica, Brittany Fischer
Hilbert: Melanie Basile, Victoria Grayson