Beaver Opens Season with Thrilling Two-Game Sweep in Myrtle Beach

North Myrtle Beach, SC - Penn State Beaver opened its season with a pair of one-run victories on March 9 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, defeating Keystone 2–1 before edging Lancaster Bible College 5–4 to start the year 2–0.

In the opener against Keystone at the North Myrtle Complex in North Myrtle Beach, the game quickly turned into a pitchers' duel after both teams traded early runs. Penn State Beaver struck first in the top of the first when Reza Benson drove in Haydan Baucan to make it 1–0. Keystone answered in the bottom half, capitalizing on a Beaver defensive miscue to even the score at 1–1. The game remained deadlocked through several scoreless innings before Beaver broke through in the fifth, when Reese Riordan came around to score the go-ahead run. Beaver protected the slim lead the rest of the way to secure the season-opening win.

For Penn State Beaver, Benson delivered the early RBI that set the tone, while Kierstyn Mays supplied the decisive run-producing play in the fifth. Riordan helped spark the offense and scored the eventual game-winner, and Baucan was active at the top of the order, getting on base and creating pressure on the bases. In the circle, Mackenzie Boyd went the distance and kept Keystone from mounting a late rally, finishing off a complete-game effort to secure the victory.

Beaver carried that momentum into the second game of the day, holding off Lancaster Bible College for a 5–4 win. Beaver collected seven hits and used aggressive baserunning along with a key third inning to build a lead before closing things out late.

Beaver opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when Kierstyn Mays lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home Haydan Baucan for a 1–0 edge. After Lancaster Bible briefly took the lead, Beaver responded in the third inning. Jaiden Patterson delivered a two-run double to swing the momentum, and Mays followed with an RBI double to push the advantage to 4–2. The game tightened again, but Beaver regained the lead in the fifth when Patterson came around to score on a fielding miscue, making it 5–4. From there, Beaver's pitching and defense navigated the final two innings to seal the win.

At the plate in the second game, Patterson led the way by going 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, and a stolen base while also scoring twice. Baucan finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three stolen bases, consistently creating pressure on the bases, and Mays added a double and two RBIs, including the first-inning sacrifice fly. Mia Gomez chipped in with a 1-for-3 performance that included a run scored and a stolen base, while Reza Benson reached base twice, going 1-for-2 with a walk.

In the circle, Mays earned the win after pitching six innings, and Mackenzie Boyd returned to close the door in the seventh inning, recording the save to complete Beaver's 5–4 victory and the two-game sweep.

The team is sitting with a 2-0 record and are still 0-0 in conference. The team will take the field again on Wednesday, March 11th at 9am when they take on Rochester Christian and again at 1pm when they take on the United State Coast Guard Academy at Spring Training. For all things Penn State Beaver Softball check out beaverathletics.com!