Joel Wilson – Staff Writer

jnw5443@psu.edu

Recently, the Penn State Behrend Women’s Softball team made their return north from the Sunshine State to play softball on campus. On April 3, the Lionesses made a trip south to Pittsburgh for a doubleheader with the La Roche Redhawks. 

The first game of the twin bill ended in an 8-1 Penn State victory. The Nittany Lions cracked an impressive five extra base hits – three of which were triples. Jocelyn McNany, Behrend’s first basewoman, had the most impressive game at the plate. McNany went 3-3 with a double, a triple, two runs scored, and a walk. Centerfielder Sierra Williams also contributed mightily by going 2-4 with a homerun. Pitcher Kayla Lindberg was credited with a win to even her record to 3-3 on the season. Her and Kaitlyn Ezzone collectively pitched seven innings and allowed five hits. 

While this first win was decisive and impressive, it paled in comparison for the 21-1 drubbing that was game two. Due to the extremely lopsided score, the mercy rule shortened the nightcap to only five innings. 

Most of the damage was done in the first inning, when Penn State scored 12 runs. With the bases loaded, Lexi Edgett took one for the team and advanced to first base on a hit by pitch with the bases loaded. The next four runs would be scored on walks to Meghan Petitte, Niclole DeRose, Abby Tingley, and Maddie Smith. Sierra Williams collected two RBIs on a single. A passed ball allowed Smith to score from second and allowed Williams to advance to third. Jocelyn McNany continued the hitting clinic she started in the first game by singling home Williams. McNany found her way home on a double off the bat of Petitte. Kayla Salvini knocked in the final runs of the first inning on a single to left. 

With a commanding 12-0 lead, Behrend’s women took to the field behind pitcher Abby Tingley. Tingley tossed a complete game victory allowing only four hits, one run, one walk, two strikeouts, and no home runs. 

The second inning saw the Lionesses score a modest four runs, further dampening La Roche’s spirits. Two more runs were piled on in the third inning. Behrend took mercy on their already-vanquished foe by not getting any runners across the plate. This hiatus in scoring was made up for in the fifth and final inning with three unneeded insurance runs. 

La Roche’s one and only run came in the fourth inning. Maria Schussler came around on a single to left field by Emma Bizay. 

At last, the dust settled with the authoritative paw of the Nittany Lions holding the Redhawks to the ground. “21-1,” she roared. 

The double header sweep in Pittsburgh is a great morale booster for the softball team, who improved to 6-10 on the season. They proved to themselves, and to their opponents, that, if you give them an opportunity, they will take it and make you regret your kindness.  With multiple doubleheaders between today and finals week still remaining, the softball team, who will hold their heads high the next time they take the diamond, look to dominate the remainder of the league the same way they dominated the La Roche Redhawks.