ANNVILLE, PA (March 28, 2023) – The Susquehanna University softball team paid a Tuesday non-conference doubleheader visit to Lebanon Valley. In both games, the River Hawks held one-run leads with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Though late Flying Dutchmen heroics cost Susquehanna a 4-3 nine-inning defeat in the opener, the River Hawks exacted revenge with similar late magic to take a 3-2 win in the nightcap.

The River Hawks, now 10-9 on the year, welcome Stevenson to Sassafras Field for a Thursday non-conference twinbill beginning at 3:00 PM.

LEBANON VALLEY 4, SUSQUEHANNA 3 (9 INNINGS)
Ashley Warner got the scoring started right away in the first with an RBI single to score Meredith Pavlik. After three scoreless innings from Amanda Amerman, the Flying Dutchmen retaliated with two runs in the fourth by way of an Erin Pattillo bunt to score Lindsey McCurdy, then a sacrifice bunt by Meghan Heard to bring in Mackenzie Willey. Susquehanna regained the lead with one swing in the bat in the top of the fifth when Pavlik delivered a two-run single to bring in Hailey Kaba and Hannah Roland.

Hannah Foust took over in the circle in the bottom of the fifth, posting two hitless innings. The River Hawks had a win in sight when Foust retired the first two in the bottom of the seventh, but a triple by Sam Burns set up a game-tying opportunity for Lexi Smith. She grounded it to Palumbo at short who threw to Warner at first, but the high throw led to the outstretched Warner being called off the bag to bring in the tying run. LVC called game in the bottom of the ninth with Kylie Balthaser on third and Nicole Kratz delivering a two-out bloop shot into shallow right.

The final stat line saw SU tally six hits, all singles, to LVC's seven, with Roland going for the multi-hit game at 2-for-4 and scoring one run. Amerman pitched four innings, allowing two earned run with four hits and four strikeouts. Foust was handed the L after going 4.2 innings, giving up one earned run on three hits with four strikeouts, moving to 4-5 on the year.

SUSQUEHANNA 3, LEBANON VALLEY 2
One Flying Dutchmen run in the third off a RBI single from Lexi Smith was the only ripple in a calm first five innings as Brianna Jones held the Flying Dutchmen at bay in a 1-0 game entering the sixth. Jones then provided the boost for the River Hawks in the top of the sixth, getting on base off a fielding error by the shortstop, then stole second. This set the stage for Meredith Pavlik's RBI double to left center to bring home Jones and tie the game, followed by Lexi Palumbo on the next at bat bringing home Pavlik with a single for a 2-1 lead.

LVC would not go quietly, as Lindsey McCurdy lifted a sacrifice fly to right to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs in the top of the seventh and Morgan Henry on second, Hannah Roland offered up a clutch RBI single for the go-ahead run. The Flying Dutchmen against threatened late, for the second consecutive game having a runner on third with two outs in the seventh. This time the River Hawks closed the door with an unassisted ground out to first from Ashley Warner.

Once again, Susquehanna finished with six hits to Lebanon Valley's seven, with Henry batting 2-for-3, while Pavlik went 1-for-3 with one double and one RBI. Palumbo and Roland finished 1-for-3 with one RBI. Jones surrendered two earned runs off seven hits in a full seven innings of work, posting three strikeouts to improve to 6-1 on the year.