Crusaders, Lebanon Valley Split DH Battle of Regionally Ranked Teams

ANNVILLE, Pa. -- Susquehanna University and host Lebanon Valley College split a non-conference doubleheader at LVC Softball Park on April 28. Susquehanna lost Game 1, 5-4, before rebounding for a 7-6 Game 2 win.

SU (28-8 overall) is ranked No. 4 in the latest NCAA Division III East Region poll. LVC (28-8 overall) is ranked No. 2.

The Crusaders trailed Game 2, 4-0, entering the top of fourth inning but outscored the Flying Dutchmen, 7-2, the rest of the way.

SU entered the bottom of the seventh inning of Game 1 ahead, 4-1, but gave up four late runs to lose. LVC's last run of the opening game came home on a two-out, walk-off single.

Freshman Sarah Hoffman (Laceyville, Pa./Wyalusing Valley) earned the win in Game 2 to improve to 11-3 this season and end the Crusaders' four-game losing streak. That skid came on the heels of a program-record 19 straight wins.

Hoffman pitched the first 6 1/3 innings of the nightcap and allowed six runs on 13 hits and no walks. She struck out one batter before giving way to junior outfielder/pitcher Bryn Whitmire (Lederach, Pa./Souderton Area). Whitmire earned her first save this season by retiring the last two batters of the game, the final one on a strikeout with the go-ahead run on second base.

SU's sophomore infielder Kate Reese (Wellsboro, Pa./Wellsboro Area) batted 3-for-4 in Game 2 with a game-high five runs batted in. Reese had a two-run double in the fourth inning and an important two-run homerun in the seventh for her first round-tripper of the season.

Teammate and junior infielder Shelly Landis (Souderton, Pa./Christopher Dock Mennonite) went 3-for-4 in that game as well. Landis doubled, scored a run and drove in another.

Crusaders sophomore outfielder Lisa Finizio (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) went 2-for-4 in the nightcap with a walk and two runs. Senior outfielder Deanna Anderson (Coal Twp., Pa./Shamokin Area) went 2-for-5.

SU's senior catcher Kelli Holota (Spring Lake, N.J./Livingston) batted 1-for-2 in Game 2 with a double, a walk, a hit batsman, a run and an RBI. Junior infielder/pitcher Kim Rubino (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany) was hit by a pitch as well as part of a 1-for-3 game.

Junior infielder Brennan Balfour (Cape Elizabeth, Maine/Cape Elizabeth) went 0-for-3 in the second game but walked and scored.

Junior Cara Swerdlow (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) suffered the Game 1 pitching loss to fall to 15-5 this year. Swerdlow struck out a game-high five batters in all 6 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits and six walks. Nonetheless, she has completed 18 games this season, which ties for second-most in one season in program history. Tammi Beers '97 Franklin completed 18 games as well in 1996. Swerdlow already holds the school record of 19 complete games in 2009.

Reese was 2-for-2 in the opener with a walk, a double and a run. Teammate and senior infielder Katie Connors (Laflin, Pa./Pittston Area) was 2-for-3 with an RBI double.

Anderson and Rubino both batted 2-for-4 with a run in that game. Anderson also drove in a run and stole a base. Rubino stroked two doubles.

Holota went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Her two doubles on this day give her 13 during the 2010 season, which is a new school record. Landis held the old record of 12 in 2009.

Next Games: Saturday, May 1, vs. Moravian (DH) (Landmark Conference games - Senior Day), 1 p.m.

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