SCRANTON, Pa. – A home run late in each game helped the host University of Scranton Royals sweep the Susquehanna University softball team Saturday afternoon in Landmark Conference action. Susquehanna (6-6, 6-6 LC) dropped the first game, 3-1, to the Royals (10-2, 10-2 LC) and then fell 10-2 in six innings in the nightcap.
 
GAME 1
How It Happened
Susquehanna drew first blood in the top of the first inning. Sophomore infielder Ashley Warner (Bloomsbury, N.J./Phillipsburg) made contact for a single to left field to bring home junior captain Erin Bean (Watchung, N.J./Watchung Hills), who had a lead-off single, advanced to second on a passed ball, and went to third on a single by junior catcher Katie Koch (West Milton, Pa./Lewisburg Area).
 
The River Hawks ended the first inning by leaving three on base as Scranton struck out the next batter, walked senior infielder Madison Lane (Havertown, Pa./Haverford), tagged Koch out at home on a fielder's choice and the last batter grounded out.
 
SU nursed the 1-0 lead until the bottom of the sixth inning when junior catcher Heather Alich hit a three-run dinger with no outs to give the Royals their first lead of the game. Senior captain Gabby Bubba (Lake Hopatcong, N.J./Pope John XXIII) retired the next two batters in order before giving up a single. However, Scranton did not generate any further offense as Bubba struck out the next batter.
 
Senior right-hander Jennifer Sweeney sat down Susquehanna's side in order in the seventh to clinch the win for the Royals.
 
Inside the Box Score
Susquehanna tallied one run on eight hits, including two extra-base hits, with no errors while stranding 12 on base. The Royals notched three runs on six hits, including a pair of extra-base hits, with one error.
 
Top Performers
Bean led the charge offensively with a perfect 4-for-4 effort at the plate and one run scored. Bubba's season record evened at 3-3 with today's loss after giving up three runs (all earned) on six hits with three strikeouts, two walks, and one hit batter in her third complete game of the season.
 
Alich and graduate outfielder Megan Zinn each had two hits for the Royals while Alich drove in three runs with her home run in the sixth. Sweeney (6-1) threw the complete game victory, fanning five River Hawks, walking four, and allowing just one run (earned) on eight hits with one wild pitch.
 
GAME 2
How It Happened
The River Hawks once again struck first as junior infielder Kiara Bryant (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) connected on a two-out double to right center, scoring Warner who had reached on a fielder's choice for a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. SU would strand two on base after a walk and a fly out to end the inning.
 
Scranton responded with four runs in its half of the opening inning as the Royals capitalized on four hits and two River Hawk errors for a 4-1 lead. Zinn and Alich highlighted the inning by each hitting a double.
 
The score remained 4-1 for the next four innings.
 
In the sixth, SU pulled within 4-2 as Koch hit a two-out single through the left side to score first-year outfielder Nicole Plesh (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central), who had cracked a one-out double in her at-bat. The River Hawks would get no closer as the next batter grounded out.
 
The hosts put up six runs on seven hits with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to break the game open and mercy-rule Susquehanna. The highlight of the inning was a one-out, three-run long ball by Sweeney to put the Royals up, 7-2. The next three runs came on an RBI double by sophomore pinch hitter Olivia Burd, a ground out RBI by graduate infielder Casey DeSarno, and a two-out RBI single by first-year infielder Jessica Stadler.
 
Inside the Box Score
The River Hawks scored two runs on seven hits, including two doubles, with two errors and left 10 on base while Scranton crossed home plate 10 times on 13 hits, including five extra-base hits, with no errors.
 
Top Performers
Plesh paced Susquehanna at the plate as she went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Senior right-hander Brooke Wiarda (Green Pond, N.J./Morris Knolls) was saddled with the loss as Wiarda (2-2) gave up four runs (three earned) on five hits with one strikeout and one hit batter in the first three innings.
 
The Royals were led in the nightcap by Alich and sophomore outfielder Lauren Cawley as each player had three hits while Sweeney had three RBI and scored two runs. Senior Meaghan Dowdell (4-1) picked up the win, allowing two runs (both earned) on seven hits with five walks, one strikeout, and one hit batter in the complete game victory.
 
Up Next for the River Hawks
Apr. 18 vs. Scranton (10-2, 10-2 LC) – Senior Day – Selinsgrove, Pa. / Sassafras Field – 1:00 p.m. (DH)
 
Facebook: susquehanna.riverhawks | Instagram: @gosusqu, @susquehannasoftball
Twitter: @GOsusqU, @SusqUSoftball | Hashtags: #AllIn, #GoSU, #RiverHawkPride