Boxscore

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Junior infielder Brennan Balfour (Cape Elizabeth, Maine/Cape Elizabeth) smacked a two-run, walk-off homerun in the bottom of the ninth inning to propel Susquehanna University past Frostburg State University, 3-1, in the first round of a 2010 NCAA Division III softball regional at Christopher Newport University's Captains Park on May 13.

Balfour finished the game batting 2-for-5.

Susquehanna (33-11 overall), the No. 3 seed in this regional, plated a run in the bottom of the first inning and then held No. 6-seeded Frostburg State (29-15 overall) scoreless until it tied the game in the sixth.

SU had multiple chances to end the game before the ninth but left runners on base in every inning until Balfour's homer.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Crusaders had runners on second and third base with one out, but two straight groundouts ended the frame.

In the seventh, sophomore outfielder Lisa Finizio (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) reached base on an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error. Finizio then moved to third on a wild pitch, but SU ended the inning on the next two pitches by way of foul and ground outs, respectively.

The Bobcats had a chance to take the lead in the fourth inning with runners on second and third, but a groundout ended that threat.

FSU's leadoff hitter reached on a single to start the ninth and then moved to third base by way of a sacrifice bunt and a throwing error. The next batter then hit a grounder to junior infielder Taylor Crawford (Matamoras, Pa./Delaware Valley HS) at second base, but Crawford threw the Frostburg runner out at home to keep the game tied. A fly out ended the inning.

Finizio went 3-for-5 in this game and threw another runner out at home in the third inning.

SU's junior Cara Swerdlow (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) tossed the first 6 1/3 innings in a no-decision. Swerdlow scattered five hits and walked three batters while striking out six more. Her third strikeout of the game marked her 500th career K.

The pitching appearance was Swerdlow's 27th this year, breaking her own school single-season record set last year.

Freshman Sarah Hoffman (Laceyville, Pa./Wyalusing Valley) relieved Swerdlow and gave up two hits and no walks in 2 2/3 innings to pick up the win. Hoffman struck out two batters and walked none. She is now 13-5 this year.

Teammate and sophomore infielder Kate Reese (Wellsboro, Pa./Wellsboro Area) went 2-for-2 at the plate with a walk and a sacrifice bunt. Senior outfielder Deanna Anderson (Coal Twp., Pa./Shamokin Area) walked twice and scored two runs, including the game-winner, in a 1-for-3 game.

Crawford walked and singled in three at bats.

The Crusaders left 11 runners on base but capitalized on their final at bat to advance to the winners bracket of this double-elimination regional.

SU will now play No. 2-seeded and nationally ranked No. 11 Christopher Newport (37-8 overall) on Friday, May 13, at approximately 4 p.m., while FSU will play Piedmont College (29-11 overall) in the losers bracket that same day at approximately 12 p.m.

CNU defeated Piedmont, 3-2, in the game immediately following the SU-Frostburg tilt.

In other games in this regional, top-seeded and nationally ranked No. 3 Salisbury University (34-2 overall) defeated Eastern Mennonite University (19-17 overall), 4-0, and fourth-seeded and nationally ranked No. 7 Messiah College (36-7 overall) topped Greensboro College (27-14-1 overall), 8-0 in five innings. Messiah's ladies are the defending Division III champions.

Next Game: Friday, May 14, at #11 Christopher Newport (NCAA Division III championships), 4 p.m.