ERIE, PA – Hilbert College Softball continued play in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference playoffs this afternoon as they took on the Pitt Bradford Panthers. A five-run outburst in the fourth inning helped propel the Hawks to a 6-4 win and into the next round in the winner's bracket.
 
Neither team was able to find much offense to begin this one, as a third inning infield single by Pitt Bradford was the game's only hit through the first three innings.
 
Hilbert's first hit of the game, an Emma Gionta single in the top of the fourth, sparked a massive inning to give the Hawks control of the game. Samantha Heppel's bases loaded walk, Victoria Hanley's RBI fielder's choice, an error, and Brooke Feliciano's two RBI single gave Hilbert a 5-0 lead.
 
The Panthers used a three-run bottom half of the fifth inning to fight back into the game and cut the Hilbert lead to just two runs heading into the final two frames.
 
After a scoreless sixth, Alana Yadov singled to score Gionta to extend the Hawks' lead to 6-3 and give pitcher Kimberly Bentley an extra insurance run to work with in the final inning.
 
Pitt Bradford matched the run from the top of the inning, but two straight flyouts ended the game for the 6-4 Hilbert win.
 
Yadov and Bentley split the circle for the Hawks, with Yadov earning the win after making the start and going 4.1 innings allowing one earned run. Bentley earned her first career save with 2.2 innings pitched while allowing just one hit and one run.
 
Up Next:

The Hawks continue postseason play with a matchup with the hosts of the tournament, the first seeded Penn State Behrend Lions tomorrow at 1 pm. The Lions head into the matchup with a perfect 18-0 AMCC record, including a pair of wins over Hilbert in the regular season (16-4, 7-0). After earning a bye, Behrend took down Pitt Greensburg in their first game today to set up the date with the Hawks.