Behrend Softball Posts 8-2 Record over Spring Break Competition
The Penn State Behrend softball team
opened up season play last week with its spring break trip to Clermont,
Florida. The women came away with eight wins during the competition,
outscoring opponents 65-27 in ten games.
Fifth
year head coach Stacy Pondo was pleased with her team during the ten game
stretch stating that spring break was a successful week for the team.
The women were led by some key veterans that helped on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Returners such as Nikki Kaschauer (South Park/South Park), Katie Whitby (Tyrone/Tyrone), and Allison Babish (Coraopolis/Montour) helped lead the offensive effort. Kaschauer led the Behrend Lions hitting .500 (15-30) with four triples and nine RBIs. She only struck out three times in ten games. Teammate Whitby was able to connect on eight of 20 at bats, hitting .400, with four RBIs and three triples to add to the cause.
"We had some questions about
positions going into the week and learned from our strengths and
weaknesses," said Pondo. "We were able to see what our incoming
freshmen could do, as well as our progress from the upperclassmen."
Many of those freshmen stepped up to help in the efforts as well. Justine Yoder (Conneautville/Linesville) hit .500 (3-6) with four RBIs in only five games. Brooke Callen (Punxsutawney/Punxsutawney) was also a force for the squad, hitting .318 (7-18) adding three doubles and eight RBIs.
On the mound, pitcher Julie Koman (McKees Rocks/Montour) led the way for the blue and white. Koman won all five games she appeared in over the trip. She posted 30 strikeouts in 35 innings, allowing only six earned runs on 22 hits. Freshman Callen stepped up to the mound for one of the Behrend Lion wins.
The Behrend Lions will will host Grove City
College on
Thursday, March 27, with games beginning at 3:30 p.m. The women will go on
to open up AMCC conference play on Saturday, March 29 against Mt. Aloysius
at the Behrend softball field. The double header is set to begin at
1:00 p.m.