KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Senior pitcher Peyton Blankenheim-Brown (Rio Linda, Calif.) scattered seven hits in an eight-inning complete game shutout to propel the Wheaton College (Mass.) softball team to a 1-0 victory over Pennsylvania State University Brandywine this morning at Fortune Road Athletic Complex in Kissimmee, Fla. as part of The Spring Games.

The Lyons improve to 6-1 on the season, while the Lions fall to 4-5.

Wheaton rapped out nine hits, but did not score the game's first run until the bottom of the eighth inning.

Junior third base Emma Boucher (Derry, N.H.) led all hitters, going 3-3, while junior center fielder Gabby Reinbold (Sharon, Mass.) was 2-3 with a stolen base for the Lyons. First year Madi Bryan (Halifax, Mass.) collected her first two collegiate hits with a pair of singles in three at-bats. Blankenheim-Brown struck out six and did not walk a batter, en-route to improving to a perfect 4-0. 

First year Ava Rodgers (xx) paced Penn State Brandywine with a 2-3 effort, while sophomore Jordan DuBois (Southampton, N.J.) was 2-2. First year starting pitcher Olivia Bowers (Webster, N.Y.) did not give up a run, while allowing nine hits and fanning five batters. Junior hurler Isabella Hurta (Colts Neck, N.J.) suffered the loss to drop to 2-3 after giving up a run in one-third of an inning. 

Both sides threatened to score throughout the game. The Lions placed a runner on third in the second, fifth and sixth innings, and the Blue and White put a runner on third in the second, third and eighth innings. 

First year pinch-runner Lauren Kelley (Newton, Mass.) began the bottom of the eighth on second base as stipulated by the international tie-breaker rule. Kelley later stole third base and scampered home with the winning run for Wheaton on a sacrifice fly to right field off the bat of junior middle infielder Ella Molinari (Grafton, Mass.).

Penn State Brandywine looked to get on the board first in the fifth inning. Sophomore Madie Culbertson (Havertown, Pa.) reached on an error to open the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Senior Lexi Bussenger (Bangor, Pa.) served a single to right field and Culbertson looked to score from second on the play, but senior right fielder Amber Arcand (Millville, Mass.) cut the runner down at the plate with a throw from right field to keep it a scoreless tie. 

The Lyons return to the diamond later today when they face Benedictine University for a 12:30 p.m. first pitch at Fortune Road Athletic Complex, while Penn State Brandywine plays Carlow University later today.