Kissimmee, FL- The Penn St. Berks Softball Team continued its spring break trip by facing New England College and Lasell University in a doubleheader on Sunday, Mar. 9. The Lions won both contests, taking down New England College 6-2 and then knocked off Lasell by a score of 8-5.
The Lions (2-2 Overall) fell behind in the top of the first inning as the Pilgrams (0-4 Overall) capitalized on an error to score the game's first run. The Lions fought back in the bottom of the third inning.
Autumn Weil reached base on an error and then
Kylie Krauss and
Peyton Vivian smacked back-to-back singles to load the bases.
Paige Brightwell delivered a clutch hit, knocking a single into right field that allowed two runs to score.
Berks increased their advantage in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Laurel Zubler walked and then advanced into scoring position. Weil blasted a single to center field allowing Zubler to score. Krauss then lined a double just over the outstretched glove of the shortstop, allowing Weil to score. Vivian kept the offense rolling, lining a single into left field that scored Krauss to make the score 5-1. New England College answered back, scoring in the top of the fifth to close back within three.
The Lions added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning, when Vivian rocketed an RBI single into left field, scoring
Ashlyn Sherwood. The four-run lead was plenty for Brightwell, who earned her first win of the season by pitching 7.0 innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on seven hits while striking out seven.
The Lions' offense was led again by Vivian who went 3-4 with two RBIs. Brightwell and Weil also collected an RBI each.
Anna Laughlin and Krauss provided some power, each going 2-4 with a double.
Berks looked to use the momentum from their game one win as they took on Lasell University in the first ever match-up between the two programs. The Blue & White wasted no time introducing themselves, jumping on the Lasers (0-1 Overall) in the top of the first inning. Krauss led off the game with a single down the left line and then stole second to move into scoring position. Vivian then blasted a triple into right field, allowing Krauss to score.
Jaredis Flores hammered another triple into right field, plating Vivian to make the score 2-0.
Laurel Zubler kept the rally going, lining a single up the middle that scored Flores. Namoi Fay capped off the scoring rally with a single up the middle that gave Berks a 4-0 lead.
Lasell chipped away at the Lions lead, scoring in the bottom of the second inning. The Lions looked to replace that run in the top of the fourth inning. Brightwell and Flores rattled off back-to-back singles with two outs in the inning. Berks brought in
Alexa Burkey to pinch run, and she made the most of the opportunity, racing around the bases to score off a single by Zubler.
The Lions led 5-2 entering the sixth inning, looking to create some extra separation. Berks loaded the bases for Fay, who drew a walk that allowed a run to score. Weil then came through, knocking a two RBI single into left field, making the score 8-2. Lasell made on final push in the seventh inning, but Brightwell returned to the circle and halted any further comeback attempt, securing the 8-5 victory.
Maura Gorman earned her first win of the season, pitching a total of 3.2 innings, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out five.
Mallory Duff made an appearance, throwing 2.1 innings, allowing one run on four hits. Offensively, Zubler had the best performance of her young career, going 3-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Weil and Fay each posted two RBIs, coming through with runners on base. Vivian and Flores both went 2-4 with a triple and an RBI.
WHO'S NEXT
The Lions will have an off day before taking on Utica University and Otterbein University on Tuesday, March 11. The first pitch is scheduled for 4:00 PM.
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