(GREENSBURG, PA:)  Pitt-Greensburg used two huge innings Wednesday afternoon to earn a pair of Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference wins over visiting Penn State Altoona.  The Lady Bobcats edged the Lions 5-3 in the opener, then took the nightcap 11-0 in five innings.  UPG improved to 2-2 overall and in the league while the Lions dropped to 3-11 and 0-2 in AMCC action.

After a scoreless first and second inning, Greensburg finally got to Altoona starting pitcher Emily Cummins (Spring Mills, PA/Penns Valley) in game one, touching up the sophomore for five runs on four hits including a three-run home run by Kelly Welsh.

The Lions responded in the top of the fourth when Kate Markstein (Crown Point, IN/Crown Point) tripled and scored on a wild pitch.  Four batter later, Melissa Claver (State College, PA/State College) roped an RBI double that scored Kara Myers (Millheim, PA/Penns Valley) and brought Altoona to within 4-2. 

Cummins held the Greensburg hitters at bay over the final three frames, and Altoona made a late push in the top of the seventh.  Freshman Karen Keim (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth) singled and eventually scored on a Markstein base hit with two outs, but that was all Bobcat starter Taylor Kimmel would allow.

Kimmel fired all seven innings, allowing six hits, three runs, and striking out six.  Cummins took the loss after surrendering five runs on eight hits and fanning five.  Markstein, playing in her first game of the season, went 3-4 at the plate.

In game two, Greensburg knocked Lion starter Lindsey Laudermilch (Hershey, PA/Hershey) out of the game after just one inning of work.  The Lady Bobcats belted nine hits that resulted in eight runs in the opening inning to nab a commanding 8-0 lead after one. 

UPG starter Emily Dempsey hurled three scoreless innings and did not allow a hit.  She recorded seven strikeouts and walked three, all in the third inning.  Kimmel pitched the final two frames of relief, surrendering two hits and whiffing three.

Freshman Callie Lyle (Brockway, PA/Brockway) entered in relief of Laudermilch and gave up two runs on two hits in three innings.  Claver and Nicolette Stimely (Lewistown, PA/Lewistown) had the two Lion hits while Greensburg banged out 13 base knocks in game two.

Altoona is back in action on Saturday, March 29, as it travels to Hilbert College for an AMCC doubleheader.  First pitch in Hamburg, NY, is slated for 1:00 PM.

CONTACT:        Penn State Altoona Sports Information
                           Steve Crider  --  SID
                           814-949-5173
                           sac310@psu.edu