SU Falls to Moravian, 7-3, in Landmark Conference Championship Game

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Moravian College scored two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to pull away from visiting Susquehanna University, 7-3, in the Landmark Conference softball championship game at Blue & Grey Field on May 9.

No. 2-seeded Susquehanna (32-11 overall) forced this winner-takes-all championship game by fighting its way through the losers bracket of the Landmark's double-elimination tournament before defeating No. 1-seeded Moravian (30-12 overall), 6-3, in the first championship-round game on May 8.

Since the May 9 contest marked SU and Moravian's third game against each other in these playoffs, a conference rule allowed Susquehanna the home-team advantage of batting last on May 9 even though the game officially counts as a road contest for the Crusaders.

The Greyhounds, now winners of 11 straight conference championships, including the last and only three Landmark titles, receive the Landmark's automatic invitation to the 2010 NCAA Division III championships.

Susquehanna, ranked No. 4 in the latest Division III East Region poll, must wait to see if it receives an at-large invitation to the national tournament. The field will be announced on NCAA.com on Monday, May 10, at 12 p.m.

Moravian is ranked No. 3 in the East Region.

The Greyhounds jumped out to a 2-0 lead after one inning and a 3-0 lead after 3 1/2 innings, but the Crusaders tied the game with a three-spot in the fourth.

Moravian went right back on top--this time for good--with two runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth.

The Greyhounds starting pitcher lasted just 3 1/3 innings and allowed all three SU runs, but their reliever shut the door by allowing no hits in the final 3 2/3 innings.

Junior Cara Swerdlow (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) suffered the loss to fall to 18-6 this year. Swerdlow allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits and three walks in the first four innings. She struck out a game-high three batters.

Freshman Sarah Hoffman (Laceyville, Pa./Wyalusing Valley) relieved Swerdlow and allowed two runs on eight hits over the next two innings while striking out one batter. Junior outfielder/pitcher Bryn Whitmire (Lederach, Pa./Souderton Area) finished the game with a hitless seventh inning.

Despite the loss, Swerdlow's 18 wins this year are a school single-season record, as are her 25 pitching starts and 161 1/3 innings pitched. Her 26 pitching appearances this year tie her own school single-season record set last year.

Swerdlow's 61 career pitching starts and 497 career strikeouts are SU's standards in those categories as well.

Junior infielder Brennan Balfour (Cape Elizabeth, Maine/Cape Elizabeth) struck the Crusaders' biggest offensive blow with an opposite-field homerun to leftfield to open the bottom of the fourth inning. Balfour finished the game 1-for-3. Her 10 homers this year are a school single-season record, as are her 144 at bats, 37 runs batted in and 104 total bases.

Amazingly, Balfour's 10 HR this year alone would tie her for SU's career HR record prior to this year. She now has a school-record 12 career HR.

Junior infielder/pitcher Kim Rubino (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany) led SU in this game and tied for the game-high with two hits (in three at bats).

Susquehanna's junior infielder Taylor Crawford (Matamoras, Pa./Delaware Valley HS) and sophomore infielder Kate Reese (Wellsboro, Pa./Wellsboro Area) both went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Crawford's hit was a double. Reese also stole a base.

Senior catcher Kelli Holota (Spring Lake, N.J./Livingston) had the Crusaders' other hit as part of a 1-for-3 day. Holota also scored a run.

"We had an amazing season," said SU's Head Coach Kathy Kroupa. "I'm so proud of our players and all that they have accomplished.

"We certainly hope that we get the opportunity to play [more], but if we don't, it won't make [this season] any less of a success."

The 2010 Crusaders have set a program record for wins this year on the strength of a mid-season, school-record 19-game winning streak.

"Today, we just weren't able to play flawless ball, and that made the difference," said Kroupa, whose team was charged with two errors officially but mishandled a couple of other plays. "You have to be at the top of your game to win a championship.

"We did a lot of great things today, but we lost to a very good team."

**UPDATE: Next Game: Susquehanna vs. Frostburg State (NCAA championships at Christopher Newport), Thursday, May 13, 2 p.m.

Print Friendly Version