Lady Lions Rally to Win First Game of the Season

Titusville, FL - On Thursday, March 11 the Penn State Beaver Lady Lions softball team earned its first win of the season by upending the Finlandia University Lions (Hancock, MI), 10-9. Earlier in the day, Beaver was defeated by the Vikings of Valley City State University (Valley City, ND), 7-2. 

Senior Sam Neely (Northgate High School, Pittsburgh, PA) was ineffective from the start as Finlandia scored six runs in the first inning, but freshman Alyssa Carver (New Brighton High School, New Brighton, PA) came in and struck the last two batters out to kill the Finlandia rally.

Beaver chipped away at the lead and scored in the top of the third and fourth innings, but Finlandia responded with a single run in the fourth and fifth innings. 

With Finlandia ahead, 8-2, the Beaver bats exploded, scoring four runs in the fifth and sixth innings to give Beaver a 10-8 lead.

Beaver kept Finlandia at bay in the seventh inning and earned its first win of the season. Carver had her first career collegiate win. She pitched 6 2/3, allowed 3 earned runs, and walked 2 batters. 

Offensively, Beaver was led by Chelsea Barnes (New Brighton High School, New Brighton, PA) who went 3-4 with an RBI, two stolen bases, and 3 runs scored; Alysia Policaro (Beaver Falls High School, Beaver Falls, PA) who went 3-4 with an RBI, two stolen bases, and 1 run scored, and Alonna Verrico (Rochester High School, Rochester, PA) who went 3-4, including a double, an RBI and 1 run scored. 

Beaver takes the field for the last time in Florida at 9:00 a.m., Friday, March 12 when they face the Vikings of Valley City State University (Valley City, ND) again.