Greater Allegheny Softball Opens Season with Split over Cincinnati-Clermont

Cincinnati, Ohio - In the first double-header of the 2016-17 season, the Penn State Greater Allegheny women's softball team split a 1-1 day with United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) foe, Cincinnati Clermont, Saturday afternoon.

Game one began with a freshman second baseman Michaela Henderson (Bowie, Md./Bullis School) run in the top of the first.

Cincinnati-Clermont snapped back with an eight-run bottom of the inning before notching three more in the bottom of the fourth.

Greater Allegheny got back on the board in the top of the fifth as senior outfielder Shelby Bendick (White Oak, Pa./McKeesport) doubled to score Henderson. Freshman shortstop Lacie Lautner (Pleasant Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) singled to score Bendick before freshman third baseman Raeann Sleith (North Huntingdon, Pa./Norwin) doubled to drive Lautner home, 11-3 Cincinnati-Clermont.

One more in the bottom of the fifth capped the game after five innings, 12-4.

Freshman pitcher Savannah Simm (West Mifflin, Pa./West Mifflin) faced 31 batters over four innings, sitting down four on strike-out. Henderson and Sleith both went 2-for-3 while Henderson noted two runs and Sleith obtained an RBI. Bendick went 2-of-2 with one run and one RBI each.

Game two brought a different series of events. Henderson started the game with a double before Lautner singled to drive her home, 1-0 GA in the top of the first.

Clermont tied the game up in the bottom of the inning before Greater Allegheny came back to bat in the top of the second. Freshman catcher Sydney Fritchman (Carnegie, Pa./Carlynton) walked to first before scoring to take the 2-1 advantage.

Freshman first baseman Morgan Lancaster (Wellsburg, W.Va./Brooke High) doubled in the top of the third to score Lautner and finish the days scoring tally.

Lautner faced 27 batters through the seven inning bout on the mound, sitting down nine on strike-out and letting up just five hits.

Lautner and Henderson both hit 2-of-4 with one run scored each while six other Lions noted a hit.

Greater Allegheny (1-1) looks forward to another double-header with Cincinnati-Clermont, Sunday afternoon.