This past weekend, the Penn State Behrend softball team was on the road with challenging doubleheaders on both Thursday and Saturday. On Thursday, Behrend split their doubleheader with La Roche, winning the first game in 10-0 and falling in the second game 5-1. Behrend swept Franciscan on Saturday by scores of 12-2 and 12-10, respectively.

In Thursday’s first game against La Roche, the Lions came out swinging and defeated the Redhawks in just five innings by a 10-0 score. In the second inning, Mackenzie McIntire singled and came around to score on a Lauren Wentz knock to gain the 1-0 lead. During the third inning, Carson Hauser singled, stole second and advanced to third on an error. Katie Gozzard then hit a sac fly to get Hauser in to obtain the two-run lead. Then, Kristen Kargol knocked a two-RBI triple into the outfield to score McIntire and Alexa Bupp. Kargol came home on a single by Wentz and then Hauser matched it with a two-RBI single for a 7-0 lead. Behrend was able to add another run in the fourth and two more in the fifth to end the game based on the eight-run mercy rule.

The second game against the La Roche wasn’t as rewarding, as Redhawk’s starter Alexa Young allowed all of one run on six hits while striking out five Behrend batters. La Roche scored all five of their runs in the first inning, giving them a big lead early in the game which they did not relinquish. Hauser scored the lone run for the Lions in this 5-1 defeat.

Behrend was back on the road against Franciscan on Saturday. The Lions made the first game seem like a piece of cake. Five different players had over the fence home runs in the first game, leading to a 12-2 victory over the Barons in a five inning game. Down one after the first inning in this game, Behrend bounced back in the second inning to take a nine-run lead, and they did not look back, capping the win with a Kargol home run in the top half of the fourth.

Saturday’s second game against the Barons was far more competitive than the first. The Lions were down six runs early before a four-run third that slimmed the lead to two runs. Behrend was able to score five more runs in the seventh to take a 12-10 lead. Jillian Williams was able to close down the game in the final inning after the Barons mounted but a small rally.
The Penn State Behrend will take on Hilbert at home on Wednesday for their next doubleheader. Game time is set for 3 p.m.