Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Playing the first Landmark Conference and home games of 2013, Susquehanna softball swept Catholic on Thursday afternoon. The Crusaders won in come back fashion in the first contest 6-5 and shut out the Cardinals in game two, 3-0.

SU (14-4, 2-0) surrendered a leadoff homer to begin game one but responded in the bottom of the second inning by plating two runs. Madison Clark (Blue Springs, Mo. / Blue Springs) and Lauren Gilbert (Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Cumberland Valley) both smacked base hits and scored on a two-run single by Brianna Murphy (Hazlet, N.J. / Mater Dei Prep) as the Crusaders went ahead 2-1.

The Crusaders tacked on another run in the third as Alyssa Cantalini (Kitchener, Ontario / St. David Catholic Secondary) led off with a triple to right field and scored on a wild pitch to go ahead 3-1.

But the Cardinals (9-7, 0-2) scored twice in the fourth, including another solo homer, to knot the game at 3-3. Catholic took the lead in the seventh, scoring two runs on three hits as the Crusaders found themselves trailing 5-3 entering the bottom of the inning.

Kathyrn Gilbert (Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Cumberland Valley) started the bottom of the frame with a single up the middle, followed by a Brittany Devlin (Furlong, Pa. / Central Bucks East) walk. Clark blasted a two-run double to left field, tying the game at 5-5.

With two outs, Bridget Rafter (Highlands, N.J. / Henry Hudson Regional) and Amanda Neveroski (Toms River, N.J. / Toms River North) both drew walks to load the bases. Murphy drew the third consecutive base-on-balls for the walk-off walk, giving SU the 6-5 come-from-behind victory.

Morgan Lewis (Newtown, Pa. / Council Rock North) went 6.2 innings, scattering eight hits. Sarah Hoffman (Laceyville, Pa. / Wyalusing Valley) was the pitcher of record, earning her fourth win of the season.

In the nightcap, Ashley Cole (Carle Place, N.Y. / Carle Place) shut out the Cardinals 3-0. She allowed only two hits while striking out five and walking only one in her conference debut.

The Crusaders scored all of their runs in the bottom of the fourth. Kathryn Gilbert led off with a right field triple and Clark brought her home with an RBI single. Devlin recorded a base knock up the middle to plate Clark. SU later scored on a fielding error to go complete the fourth inning leading 3-0.

Catholic doubled and drew the only walk off Cole in the seventh, but the freshman hurler struck out the last batter to end the threat and complete the sweep.

The Crusaders travel to Misericordia on Tuesday, April 2 at 3 p.m.

Game Notes: Since 2007, the Crusaders are 14-4 against the Cardinals and currently have a 12 game winning streak against Catholic dating back to 2010 (last loss: March 21, 2009).