Salem, Va. – The Susquehanna University softball team finally kicked off their 2019 campaign on a soggy Friday afternoon with a solid season-opening victory at the Mountain Mash hosted by Roanoke College and Virginia Wesleyan University. Susquehanna (1-0) picked up a 9-3 non-conference triumph over Southern Virginia University (1-6) in five innings as the game was called by the umpires due to rain.
 
Susquehanna 9, Southern Virginia 3
 
How It Happened

• The River Hawks came out swinging as SU grabbed a 4-0 lead in the opening inning. Junior outfielder Kasey Bost (Eldersburg, Md./Liberty), the No. 3 hitter, drove in two runs with a triple to right center, bringing home freshman catcher Katie Koch (West Milton, Pa./Lewisburg Area), the leadoff hitter, and junior Emily Lear (Elmira, N.Y./Thomas Edison), who both reached base with walks. Sophomore infielder Kody Streeter (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown), the No. 7 hitter, then connected on a single to right field to score Bost and senior infielder Jackie Gore (Andover, N.J./Newtown).
• Southern Virginia scored all three of its run in the top of the second inning on two hits and one error.
• Susquehanna got one back in its half of the second when Lear hit an infield single back to the pitcher to bring home sophomore outfielder Katherine Fahsbender (Sparta, N.J./Pope John XXIII), who reached with a lead-off bunt single.
• Sophomore infielder Brittany Hebda (Kingston, Pa./Holy Redeemer) doubled the River Hawks' advantage to 6-3 in the bottom of the third with an infield single to drive in freshman Katie Welker (Williamsport, Pa./Loyalsock Township), who pinch ran for Gore after she drew a leadoff walk.
• In the fourth, SU tallied a four-run cushion as senior outfielder Jill Ahrens (Clarence, N.Y./Sacred Heart) knocked in Lear with an infield single of her own. Lear was hit by a pitch and then stole second before scoring on Ahrens' single.
• Streeter lead off the fifth with a triple to right field and then crossed home plate on a sacrifice fly to right field by sophomore infielder Madison Lane (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) in the nine-hole. A sacrifice fly to the opposite side by Koch brought home Fahsbender, who drew a walk in her at-bat. Junior Ellen Smith (Breinigsville, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) pinch hit for Lear and cracked a two-out double to right center before the game was called.

 
Inside the Box Score

• Susquehanna collected nine runs on eight hits with one error while the Knights scored three runs on two hits with one error.
• The River Hawks finished the game with three extra-base hits, including two triples, and five stolen bases while Southern Virginia had none in both categories.

 
Top Performers

• Streeter went 2-for-2 with two RBI, a triple, and one stolen base while Bost was 1-for-3 with two RBI and a triple.
• Gore contributed six putouts and one assist on defense while Bost and Koch each had three putouts.
• Senior captain Alexa Gonzalez (Northport, N.Y./Northport) opened up her senior campaign with the win as Gonzalez (1-0) retired nine straight batters over the last three innings. She finished with three strikeouts and one walk, giving up just one earned run in 5.0 innings of work.
• Krystal Kemp and Melanie Peyton each had a hit for Southern Virginia while Megan Harmon dropped to 0-4 on the season, allowing up six earned runs in 3.0 innings of action.

 
Up Next for the River Hawks

• Mar. 2 at Roanoke (0-0) – Salem, Va. – 2:00 p.m.
• Mar. 2 vs. Frostburg State (1-3) – Salem, Va. – 4:00 p.m.

 
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