PSU BERKS TOPS SOFTBALL, 9-4

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – A seven run fifth inning propelled Penn State Berks past the Emmanuel College softball team, 9-4, Tuesday morning in Day 3 action of the Fast Pitch Dreams Spring Classic. With the win, the Lady Lions improve to 5-0 on the year while the loss drops the Saints to 1-3.

PSU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first as sophomore second baseman Colleen Hoge (Kennett Square, Pa.) lead off the game with a single up the middle and advance to third on a pair of EC wild pitches. Sophomore right fielder Jenna Heffner (Bethlehem, Pa.) drove her in with an RBI groundout to third to account for the first inning run

The Lady Lions made it 2-0 with another run in the fourth as freshman centerfielder Rhianna Roulston (Mohnton, Pa.) singled to right and came around to score on an RBI triple down the right field line by sophomore third baseman Abby Staskiel (Plains, Pa.).

After being held scoreless for 19 straight innings, the Saints broke out of the drought with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 3-2 lead in the contest. Senior catcher Julia Levins (Uxbridge, Mass.) got things started with a walk and was followed by a single from freshman third baseman Kara Madden (Silver Spring, Md.). Sophomore left fielder Marianne Halas (Lynn, Mass.) worked another walk to load the bases for sophomore second baseman Kerianne Vulpis (East Rockaway, N.Y.). Vulpis singled to left to knock in a run and make it 2-1. Next up, sophomore shortstop Catherine Davis (Wethersfield, Conn.) drove a ball to the centerfield wall to drive in two more runs and give the Saints a 3-2 cushion.

The lead was short lived as the Lions exploded for seven runs in the fifth to take a 9-3 lead. PSU connected on five hits in the frame with the big blow coming on a bases clearing double by Staskiel.

Staskiel finished the morning going 2-3 with four RBI while freshman first baseman Megan Olsen (Mertztown, Pa.), junior shortstop Missy Lamm (Temple, Pa.) and Heffner also added two hits a piece.

Davis, Madden and freshman first baseman Susie Kieselback (Wethersfield, Conn.) all collected two hits each for EC.

Junior pitcher Casey Hafer  (Douglassville, Pa.) went the distance to earn the win for the Lions, scattering 10 hits and striking out two. Sophomore Val Kiers suffered the loss for Emmanuel and falls to 1-1 on the year.

The Saints return to action this afternoon when they take on Eureka College.