Bethlehem, Pa. – The Susquehanna University softball team needed just one win Saturday afternoon to claim the program's third Landmark Conference championship title but the River Hawk hitters were stymied by University of Scranton's ace pitcher,
Meaghan Dowdell, twice during the championship round.
No. 4 seed Scranton (32-13) tallied a 5-2 in the first game to stave off elimination before notching a 7-2 victory in the nightcap to collect the Royals' first-ever Landmark title. The 2019 campaign for No. 3 seed Susquehanna ends with a 20-17 record, the fourth consecutive 20-win during head coach
Brad Posner's four-year tenure.
Game 1
Susquehanna 2, Scranton 5
How It Happened
- Scranton raced off to a 5-0 advantage through six innings, including a three-run sixth inning thanks to Casey DeSarno's two-run home run.
- Senior captain Alexa Gonzalez (Northport, N.Y./Northport) relieved sophomore Gabby Bubba (Jefferson, N.J./Pope John XXIII) at the top of the seventh and sat down the Royal lineup in order.
- In the bottom of the seventh, sophomore outfielder Katherine Fahsbender (Sparta, N.J./Pope John XXIII), as the second hitter of the inning, connected on a one-out double then went to third on a groundout. The River Hawks then had runners on first and third as freshman second baseman Erin Bean (Watchung, N.J./Watchung Hills) drew a walk.
- Freshman first baseman Kiara Bryant's (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) third hit of the game drove in Fahsbender and moved Bean to second, cutting the deficit to 5-1 with two outs on the board. Junior captain Kasey Bost (Eldersburg, Md./Liberty) came through with an RBI single of her own to score Bean and move Bryant to third while Bost advanced to second on the throw.
- Dowdell worked herself out of the jam by pitching a ground out to secure the win and help the Royals avoid elimination.
Inside the Box Score
- Both sides finished with six hits apiece but the River Hawks stranded eight runners to Scranton's three.
- The Royals made contact for four extra-base hits with three doubles and a homer.
Top Performers
- Bryant was the only SU player with multiple hits as she went 3-for-4 with an RBI.
- Bubba was saddled with the loss as she gave up five runs (all earned) on six hits with one strikeout, one walk, and one wild pitch.
- Megan Zinn went 2-for-2 to pace Scranton while Jessica Indelicato scored twice and DeSarno brought in a pair of runs.
- Dowdell (17-5) went the full 7.0 innings, yielding two runs on six hits with three strikeouts and four walks.
Game 2
Susquehanna 2, Scranton 7
How It Happened
- After Scranton claimed a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, junior Amanda Seckinger (Glenmoore, Pa./Downingtown) kept them off the scoreboard for the next three innings.
- The River Hawks cut the deficit to 3-1 in the top of the fourth when freshman catcher Katie Koch (West Milton, Pa./Lewisburg Area) hit a two-out RBI single down the leftfield line to score Fahsbender, who had drawn a two-out walk. Dowdell, who sat down the first batters of the inning, struck out the next batter to end SU's rally.
- The Royals tacked on four more runs over the next two innings, including another three-run sixth inning.
- After the leadoff hitter grounded out, Koch singled up the middle, went to second on a sacrifice bunt, advanced to third on Bean's single up the middle before scoring on Bryant's RBI double to centerfield. Dowdell pitched another groundout to hand Scranton its first Landmark championship trophy.
Inside the Box Score
- Susquehanna put up eight hits and stranded seven on base while committing three errors.
- The Royals notched seven runs on 11 hits, including a double and a home run.
Top Performers
- Koch was the offensive leader for the River Hawks as she went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run while Bean finished 2-for-4.
- Seckinger took the loss in the pitching circle as she allowed seven runs (four earned) on 10 hits, wrapping up her junior season with a 7-2 record.
- Jennifer Sweeney led Scranton at the plate with a 3-for-4 effort, including a double and homer, plus four RBI and two runs scored.
- Dowdell (18-5) threw another complete game, this time surrendering just two runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and one walk.
Up Next for the River Hawks
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