ERIE, Pa. – The Franciscan softball team wrapped up their conference regular season with a doubleheader sweep by Penn State Behrend. The Lady Barons fell 10-2 in the first game before dropping the second, 13-3. Despite the pair of losses, Franciscan has earned a spot in the upcoming AMCC tournament. The Lady Barons seed will be determined by the outcome of a postponed conference doubleheader. 

Franciscan struck first in the opening game with a run in the top of the second inning as freshman Dennise Carrazco singled to center field with the bases loaded to senior Jordan Cunningham.

PSB answered with three runs on two hits in the bottom of the second to take a 3-1 lead. The Lions added to their lead with two runs on four hits in the third to push the lead to 5-1.

Franciscan got one back in the top of the fourth with another RBI single from Carrazco but the freshman was caught stealing to end the inning. Penn State Behrend got another two runs in the fourth and three in the fifth to take the first game, 10-2. 

Franciscan battled in the second game and kept the score close until an untimely nine-run fifth inning for the Lions ended the game, 13-3. After Penn State Behrend took a 4-0 lead after the third inning, Franciscan got on the board with a big three-run fourth. With two outs and two on, Cunningham reached on an error by the third baseman that allowed Anna Fluharty to score. Junior Lindsey Finch cleared the bases with a two-run double to score Cunningham and freshman Kayla Anderson and cut lead the deficit down to one, 4-3.

Cunningham pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth and the Lady Barons were poised to add to their run total with a pair of runners on and just one out but a fielder's choice and a sharply hit line out ended any scoring chance for Franciscan in the fifth.

Penn State Behrend put the game away with nine runs in its final at-bat. With the bases loaded and no outs, Alexa Bupp homered to left to clear the base paths and push the Lions' lead to 8-3. The next batter reached on a Lady Baron error before Franciscan was able to record it's out of the inning. With two on, Angela Sullivan doubled down the left field line to bring one run home. Another run scored on another Lady Baron error in the inning and Sullivan reached third. After a walk and a single loaded the bases, AJ Nichols doubled to left center to score the final three runs of the game.

Franciscan wraps up its regular season at home tomorrow as the Lady Barons host Chatham for a 2 pm double header to celebrate senior day while they await the final seedings for the 2017 AMCC tournament.