Swerdlow's Special Day Leads Special SU Softball Team to Sweep at Lycoming

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- Junior Cara Swerdlow (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) pitched a perfect Game 1 to lead visiting Susquehanna University to a non-conference softball doubleheader sweep of Lycoming College, 5-0, 10-4, at the Robert L. Shangraw Athletic Complex on April 11.

Swerdlow, fresh off of breaking the Susquehanna (22-4 overall) career strikeouts record during her last appearance, needed just 67 pitches and 1 hour, 19 minutes to shut out Lycoming (8-20 overall) in Game 1. That shutout, by the way, ties the Crusaders' career record. Swerdlow has 13 in her career now, drawing even with SU Sports Hall of Famer Judy Sholtis '86 for the most. Sholtis did her damage from 1983 to 1986.

The complete-game win improves Swerdlow's record this season to 12-2 and officially goes as her second career collegiate no-hitter. She also no-hit Alvernia University (then known as Alvernia College) in a neutral-site game at Disney's Wide of World of Sports in Orlando, Fla., on March 2, 2008. SU won that game, which was stopped after five innings due to the eight-run rule, by a 9-0 score.

This year's Crusaders have now won 14 straight games, which ties the program record for longest winning streak in one season. The 1991 SU squad won 14 games in a row to end that season. The longest overall winning streak in team history is a 16-gamer set from 1991 to 1992.

The program record for wins in one season was set by a 26-14 team in 1998.

"That game was all about them [her teammates]," said Swerdlow in reference to the perfect game. "I only had two strikeouts, so without good fielding, it wouldn't have happened. We also scored right away, so pitching with a lead allowed me to be aggressive and get a lot of groundouts [15].

"It's nice to do individual things, especially when they help the team in the long run. It's been easy to focus this year, because everyone's hitting and playing defense. Everyone's doing so well."

Senior catcher Kelli Holota (Spring Lake, N.J./Livingston) led the SU offense in Game 1 by batting 3-for-3 with a game-high two runs batted in. Holota homered and had a sacrifice fly. Junior infielder Brennan Balfour (Cape Elizabeth, Maine/Cape Elizabeth) went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.

SU's sophomore outfielder Lisa Finizio (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills), junior infielders Taylor Crawford (Matamoras, Pa./Delaware Valley HS) and Shelly Landis (Souderton, Pa./Christopher Dock Mennonite) and sophomore infielder Kate Reese (Wellsboro, Pa./Wellsboro Area) each went 1-for-3. Finizio was hit by a pitch and scored twice, and Crawford had an RBI. Landis also walked.

Game 2 was tied at 3 after the first inning and at 4 after four innings, but Susquehanna took the lead for good with a two-run fifth.

Freshman Sarah Hoffman (Laceyville, Pa./Wyalusing Valley) earned the win in the nightcap by allowing four runs on eight hits and no walks over all seven innings. Hoffman is now 8-2 this year.

Reese batted 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and a run in that game. SU's senior outfielder Deanna Anderson (Coal Twp., Pa./Shamokin Area) and Finizio both went 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Anderson smacked two doubles as part of two RBI, and Finizio had a one-RBI double. Finizio has scored 29 runs this season, one behind SU's single-season record set by Jen Winter '92 Zeitz in 1992 and again by Dina Fornataro '97 in 1997. The 29 runs matches Finizio's output from last season.

Landis went 2-for-4 in Game 2. Balfour and junior infielder/pitcher Kim Rubino (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany) both enjoyed 1-for-3 games with a walk and an RBI. Balfour also stole a base and scored twice. Senior infielder Katie Connors (Laflin, Pa./Pittston Area) went 1-for-4 with a run, and freshman catcher Liz Beecroft (Frackville, Pa./North Schuylkill) walked and scored in an 0-for-3 game.

Susquehanna and Lycoming were playing the second installment of their annual Cancer Awareness Cup doubleheader. The Crusaders swept the rivalry games last year as well, 4-0, 8-4, while partnering with the Warriors to raise breast-cancer awareness and promote research of the disease. Thus, Susquehanna retains the trophy.

Next Games: Thursday, April 15, vs. Wilkes (DH) (non-conference games), 3 p.m.

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