Penn State-Altoona Bests AMC

FORT MYERS, Florida – Monday night, under the lights, the AMCATS and Lions played what was a very entertaining contest. Though the game only went five innings with Altoona winning 21-11, the AMCATS stuck around and the 10-run difference between the teams what more than it seemed.

The AMCATS had seven hits in the game, one of which was a three-run home run from freshman Allison Sholds (Methuen, Mass), her first of the season and her career. Senior Hannah Trudo (Ponfret Center, Conn) had no hits in the game but was 0-0 at the plate with three walks and an RBI. Junior Victoria Falco (Marlborough, Mass) and sophomore Annie Melanson (Grafton, Mass) scored multiple times in the game for Anna Maria. Falco was one-for-three in the game with a walk, Melanson one-for-two with two walks.

For Penn State-Altoona, Haley Giedoc had four hits in five at-bats, scoring four times and driving in two runs. Meghan Marasti was three-for-three in the game and drove in four runs. Sidney Shultz drove in three runs for the Lions as well.

Altoona started the game off by scoring two in the top of the first inning, following that up with six more runs in the second and then two more in the third. Before anyone knew what had happened, the Lions had a 10-run lead and things look grim for the AMCATS.

In the bottom of the third the AMCATS struck hard as they would cut the lead in half as Melanson and Falco would score and Sholds would hit her dinger, scoring herself, Gabriella Eldredge (West Boylston, Mass) and Yolani Doddy (Vineyard Haven, Mass), making the score 10-5 after three.

In the fourth, the Lions would get the five runs back, plus one, scoring six one two extra base hits and a couple of singles to go up 16-5. The 'Cats would answer once again in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases, scoring two runs on a fielder's choice, a walk, and then a wild pitch. The score was once again halved, 16-8 after four and looking like a game.

The fifth inning was another big one for the Lions, however, as they would plate six more runs with some timely hitting to take a 21-8 lead. The AMCATS would need four runs in the bottom of the inning or the game would end because of run rule. Anna Maria was able to answer in the fifth but only scoring three runs, which wasn't enough and Penn State-Altoona won this exciting game, 21-11, in five innings.

The AMCATS will be back on the diamond tomorrow morning taking on a couple of well-known teams, Elms College and Clark University at 9 and 11 am respectively.