Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Bethlehem, Pa. – The Susquehanna University softball team opened up the 2019 Landmark Conference Softball Tournament Friday afternoon in a big way, winning back-to-back matchups to advance to Saturday's championship game. No. 3 seed Susquehanna (20-15) started the day with a dominating 12-2 victory over No. 2 seed The Catholic University of America (20-19) in five innings before posting a come-from-behind 9-6 win over No. 4 seed University of Scranton (29-13).
 
Fourth-year head coach Brad Posner collected his 100th career win as the Susquehanna head coach with the River Hawks' impressive win over Catholic. Posner's career record at SU now stands at 101-62 (.620). He has led SU to four consecutive Landmark Tournament appearances, including winning it all in 2017, and an NCAA Tournament berth in 2017.
 
Game 1
Susquehanna 12, Catholic 2 (5 inn.)
 
How It Happened

• Susquehanna put up six runs in the top of the first inning and led 6-1 after the first full inning of play. The River Hawks never relinquished the lead, widening the gap to 12-1 before Catholic notched its second and final run of the day in the bottom of the fifth.
• An RBI double by junior captain Kasey Bost (Eldersburg, Md./Liberty), a sacrifice fly by senior designated player Jill Ahrens (Clarence, N.Y./Sacred Heart), and a two-out, three-run home run by sophomore shortstop Kody Streeter (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown) highlighted SU's offense in the first inning.
• Bost's RBI single and sophomore third baseman Brittany Hebda's (Kingston, Pa./Holy Redeemer) team-leading fourth homer of the season, a two-shot, powered the River Hawks to a 9-1 advantage after two innings of play.
• After a quiet third, Hebda rocked a two-out, two-run double down the leftfield line to stretch the Susquehanna lead to 11-1.
• Junior outfielder Emily Lear (Elmira, N.Y./Edison) scored the River Hawks' final run in the fifth as Lear drew a walk, went to second on a ground out, advanced to third on an error, and then crossed home plate on a squeeze play.

 
Inside the Box Score

• Five of the River Hawks' eight hits were extra-base hits, including two dingers. SU finished the game with 12 runs on eight hits, four walks, and three Catholic errors.
• The Cardinals had at least one hit in all but one inning but Susquehanna's pitching and defense was able to hold them to two runs on six hits, three walks, two wild pitches and one SU error.

 
Top Performers

• Bost finished the game going 3-for-3 with three runs scored, two RBI, and a double while Hebda went 2-for-2 with four RBI, one home run, one double, and one run scored.
• Streeter drove in three runs with her third homer of the season while freshman second baseman Erin Bean (Watchung, N.J./Watchung Hills) crossed home plate three times.
• Sophomore Gabby Bubba (Jefferson, N.J./Pope John XXIII) earned her fifth win of the season as Bubba struck out three in 4.0 innings, giving up one unearned run on five hits with two walks and two wild pitches.
• Marissa Bruder and Sabrina Scott paced Catholic with two hits apiece.

 
Game 2
Susquehanna 9, Scranton 6
 
How It Happened

• The River Hawks fell behind 2-0 as Scranton tallied a run in the top of the third inning and then another in the fourth.
• Susquehanna cut the deficit in half in its half of the fourth when Ahrens connected on an RBI single to right field, scoring Bean with one out on the board. Bean led off the inning with a walk and went to second on a sacrifice bunt.
• The River Hawks claimed their first lead of the game in the fifth as Lear came home on a fielding error in the outfield and Bean scored her second on an RBI single by freshman first baseman Kiara Bryant (Allentown, Pa./Parkland).
• The lead was short-lived as Scranton put up for four runs on four hits and two errors in the sixth to reclaim the lead at 6-3.
• Susquehanna responded in kind, rattling off six runs on four hits and two errors in their half of the sixth to retake the lead at 9-6. The inning was highlighted by a two-run pinch hit single by junior Ellen Smith (Breinigsville, Pa./Northwestern Lehigh) as well as a three-RBI triple off Bryant's bat.
• Junior Amanda Seckinger (Glenmoore, Pa./Downingtown), who came in with one out in the sixth, and the River Hawk defense held Scranton to just one hit and forced the Royals to leave two on base in securing their spot in the championship game.

 
Inside the Box Score

• Susquehanna tallied seven RBI in scoring nine runs on seven hits and three walks.
• The Royals were able to strike 11 hits but left nine stranded.

 
Top Performers

• Bryant paced Susquehanna at the plate, going 2-for-3 with four RBI and a triple, while Bean notched three more runs.
• Seckinger (7-1) earned the win, tossing a scoreless one-hitter in 1.2 innings of relief with one strikeout.
• Casey DeSarno led Scranton offensively as she went 3-for-4 with an RBI, a double, and a run scored.

 
Up Next for the River Hawks

• May 4 vs. TBD – Bethlehem, Pa. – Landmark Conference Tournament – 2:00 p.m.

 
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