SELINSGROVE, PA (April 20, 2022) -- First-year infielder Lexi Palumbo laced a walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh, helping the Susquehanna University softball team secure a key Landmark Conference doubleheader sweep of Juniata College Wednesday in play from Sassafras Field. Susquehanna (18-6, 6-0 Landmark) won game one 3-1 before picking up the 2-1 win in the nightcap. 

Game 1: Susquehanna 3, Juniata 1
The Susquehanna pitching duo of Gabby Bubba and Katie Murphy allowed only three hits, while SU scored all three runs it would need in the bottom of the second in picking up game one. 

The second inning saw Zoe Bork lead off with a double, moving the third on a passed ball. After a strikeout, Katie Koch delivered a RBI single to right field to plate Bork. Nicole Plesh singled to left-center to push Koch to second with one out. After Hannah Roland flew out, Erin Bean stepped up and singled to right field to score Koch, while Plesh also came around on the play to score on an error. 

Juniata got on the board in the top of the fourth as Maya McLeod tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly on the next at-bat. That's all that the Eagles would get, as SU retired the final eight batters of the game to clinch the victory. 

Bork and Morgan Henry each went 1-for-3 with doubles, while Bean and Koch were each 1-for-3 with a RBI. Bubba started and picked up her seventh win of the year, allowing two hits and one earned run. Murphy came on to record her third save of the season, allowing one hit while striking out five in two innings of work. 

Game 2: Susquehanna 2, Juniata 1
The River Hawks left seven runners on base in the second game of the day, but SU finally got the big hit in the bottom of the seventh thanks to Lexi Palumbo. The first-year stepped up with runners on first and second with no outs and laced a game-winning double off the right-center wall. 

The River Hawks took an early lead in the bottom of the first, as Henry singled in Palumbo after she reached on a single earlier in the frame. SU had runners at second and third but couldn't push them across. 

Juniata (8-18, 0-6 Landmark) came right back with a run of its own in the top of the second, posting back-to-back doubles to deadlock the game at a run apiece. That's how the game would stay until the seventh, when Roland reached on an infield single to start the frame. Bean reached on a fielder's choice to set up the heroics by the SU newcomer. 

Palumbo went 2-for-4 in game two, adding a RBI and run scored, while Nicole Plesh was also 2-for-3 in the win. Bubba started the second game as well, allowing two hits and an earned run before Murphy came on to get the win with 11 strikeouts over five innings of scoreless relief. 

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Susquehanna has now won five straight after Wednesday, upping their record at home to 9-1 on the season. 

Up Next

• The River Hawks will travel to Bethlehem, PA for a crucial Landmark Conference doubleheader with the other undefeated team in the standings, Moravian University. Game time with the Greyhounds set for 1 p.m. 

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