Lions Battle in Myrtle Beach but Fall in Pair of Games

North Myrtle Beach, SC - Penn State Beaver experienced two very different contests on March 12 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, dropping a tight 4–3 decision to Southern Maine CC in the morning before falling 8–0 to Bridgewater State later in the day.

In the opener, the Lions (7–6) were locked in a pitchers' duel early and trailed just 1–0 heading into the sixth inning. Beaver broke through in that frame with a three-run rally sparked by Jaiden Patterson, who reached and later scored the tying run. The Lions used aggressive small ball to take the lead, as sacrifice bunts from Reza Benson and Mackenzie Boyd helped manufacture two additional runs. Haydan Baucan added an RBI bunt single to bring Patterson home and cap the surge, giving Beaver a 3–1 advantage.

Southern Maine CC responded in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to one and then plated two runs in the seventh to walk it off for the 4–3 win.

Baucan led the Lions offensively, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Patterson finished 1-for-4 with a triple and a run scored, while Kierstyn Mays went 2-for-4 and crossed the plate during Beaver's sixth-inning rally. Reese Riordan reached base and swiped two bags to keep pressure on the defense.

In the circle, Boyd worked 6.2 innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits with three walks and three strikeouts in the tough-luck loss.

Later in the day, Beaver struggled to find offensive rhythm in an 8–0 defeat to Bridgewater State that ended after five innings. The Lions were limited to three hits and did not draw a walk against steady pitching.

Bridgewater State seized control early with three runs in the first inning on a two-run single and a groundout RBI. The lead expanded in the third with a four-run frame that included a bases-loaded walk, runs scored on wild pitches, and a two-run single to make it 7–0. One more run in the fifth closed the scoring.

Reza Benson went 1-for-2 at the plate and also started in the circle, throwing 4.0 innings while allowing eight runs on 11 hits with six walks and one strikeout. Reese Riordan (1-for-2) and Mia Gomez (1-for-2) added Beaver's other hits, with Riordan also stealing a base. Despite clean defense and just two strikeouts at the plate, Beaver was unable to string together baserunners to mount a rally in the second game.

Penn State Beaver will look to bounce back as their spring trip in Myrtle Beach comes to an end, aiming to carry the energy from the week into the next matchup while tightening up defensively and generating more consistent offense at the plate. The team will take the field again on March 17th at 3 & 5pm when they travel to take on St. Vicent College in a non-conference match-up. For all things Penn State Beaver Softball go to beaverathletics.com!