Behrend Wins Softball Championship! Koman One Hits Panthers
The
Behrend Lions softball team captured the 2006 AMCC Championship on Sunday,
May 7 when they defeated defending champion Pitt-Bradford, 5-0.
Behrend entered the championship match-up of the double elimination
tournament at 2-0, while Bradford came in at 3-1. After dropping game
one to the Panthers 4-1, the Behrend Lions roared back and shut Bradford
out, 5-0 to claim the title.
In the decisive game, the Behrend Lions jumped out early, scoring two in the
first off strategically placed bunts and a Bradford error. Runs were scored
by Jill Wooldridge (Pittsburgh/Fox Chapel) and Nikki Kaschauer (South
Park/South Park). Behrend threatened again in the fourth after Lindsay
Baughman (Warren/Warren) led off the inning with a triple, but was gunned
out at home trying to score on a groundball back to the pitcher.
Behrend found home plate again in the fifth when Baughman smacked a double
to the wall that scored both Wooldridge and Lawrence, putting the blue and
white up 4-0. They would add one more in the seventh to solidify a 5-0
shutout victory.
Julie Koman (McKees Rocks/Montour) who threw a no-hitter through five and
two-thirds, added another win to her impressive total. Koman pitched a
complete game, one-hit shutout, striking out nine, and walking no one. The
freshman star ended the game by striking out the side in the final inning.
Baughman led the attack at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and a
triple along with 3 RBIs. Kaschauer was 2-for-4 scoring twice.
Game two of the day came as a result of Bradford's 4-1 victory in game one.
Behrend started the game slowly at the plate in game one, managing just one
hit through the first four innings. Rachelle Lawrence (Warren
Center/Northeast Bradford) broke the silence in the fifth with a bunt
single. Lauren Lubic (Bridgeville/South Fayette) advanced Lawrence with a
sacrifice bunt that turned into a scoring play off a Bradford overthrow.
Bradford struck early after singles by Michelle Pushinsky and Brittany
McLean put runners on first and second. Kristy Zavinski walked to load the
bases and LeeAnn Kramer layed down an infield grounder that drove in a run.
Jamie Keane came up the next inning to hit a solo shot, her second home run
of the tournament. Bradford tacked on another in the fourth off a Behrend
error, making it 3-0. They would add one more and go on to win 4-1.
With the win Behrend automatically qualifies for the NCAA Tournament
beginning on May 12. Regional selections will be announced Monday, May
8 with games beginning on Thursday, May 11.
AMCC Tournament Schedule
(All Games at Penn State Behrend)
Friday, May 5
12:15 p.m. Game 1 #1
Behrend def. # 4 Frostburg State (3-0)
2:45 p.m. Game 2
#2 Pitt-Bradford def. #3 Lake Erie (1-0)
5:15 p.m. Game 3
Lake Erie def. Frostburg State (3-1)
Saturday, May 6
10:00 a.m. Game 4
Penn State Behrend def. Pitt-Bradford (3-2)
12:30 p.m. Game 5
Pitt-Bradford def. Lake Erie (4-3)
Sunday, May 7
10:00 a.m. Game 6 Pitt-Bradford def.
Behrend (4-1)
12:30 p.m. Game 7 Penn
State Behrend def. Pitt-Bradford (5-0)