Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score 

SCRANTON, Pa. – The Susquehanna extended its win streak to seven games by winning its opening game at Scranton 6-1 but quickly saw that streak snapped with a 4-0 loss in the nightcap to earn a split with the Royals on Tuesday afternoon.

By splitting the two games, SU (26-6) saw its league record move to 9-1 on the season.

The Crusaders took game one behind yet another pitching gem from Cara Swerdlow (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield), the reigning Landmark Conference Pitcher of the Week. Swerdlow went the full seven innings and gave up just two hits and one run while striking out 11 Scranton batters.

Susquehanna saw four players tally two hits with Kathryn Gilbert (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) driving on two runs, including a solo home run.

SU pushed a run across the plate in the second thanks to Gilbert's solo shot to right center, her fourth home run of the spring.

Swerdlow continued to mow down the Scranton hitters, including striking out the side in the third.

A Lisa Finizio (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) triple in the fifth drove home the game's second run and Brennan Balfour (Cape Elizabeth, Maine/Cape Elizabeth) added another RBI hit to make it 3-0.

The Crusaders effectively put the game out of reach with a three-run seventh. Brittany Devlin (Furlong, Pa./Central Bucks East) drove home two runs on a one-out single and an error allowed the sixth run to cross home plate.

The Royals managed to put a run on the board in the seventh on two hits but Swerdlow got the final batter to strike out looking.

Game two went in favor of Scranton despite SU out-hitting the Royals by a 7-4 margin.

Starter Sarah Hoffman (Laceyville, Pa./Wyalusing Valley) went the distance and surrendered four runs, only three of which were earned, on four hits. Shortstop Larissa Luu (Montandon, Pa./Milton) went 2-for-3.

Scranton put its first run on the board in the first and added two more in the fourth on an Annie Zeleniak leadoff home run. Teammate Kristen Williams added another solo shot to make it 3-0.

The Royals scratched across an unearned run in the sixth and SU could not capitalize on a one-out Lauren Gilbert (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley)  hit in the seventh to clinch the win.

Next games: Wednesday, April 27 vs. Lebanon Valley (Senior Day) – 3:30 p.m. (DH)