RALEIGH, NC (March 4, 2023) – The Susquehanna softball team began their 2023 season in North Carolina on Friday, March 3, with six games scheduled over three days. After two days and four games, the River Hawks have split their results 2-2, starting with a 7-3 win over Bethany College and an 8-5 loss to DePauw University on Friday, then kicking off Saturday with an 8-6 win over #6 ranked Belhaven University before falling 15-7 to #1 ranked, reigning national champions Christopher Newport University later in the day.
Game 1: Susquehanna 7, Bethany 3
The game began with Bethany on the front foot, as they would put two runs across in the top of the 1st inning before adding another in the top of the 2nd. But the River Hawks would reply in the bottom of the 3rd. Nicole Plesh led off with a walk before Erin Bean cut the gap with one swing of the bat, launching a home run over the right field fence. It wouldn't stop there, as SU would hit a second home run, this a three-run shot courtesy of first-year Meredith Pavlik in just her second collegiate at-bat.
After tallying another run in the bottom of the 5th on an RBI single by Nicole Wuertz, Pavlik came up big again in the 6th, doubling to center field for another RBI and setting the score at 7-3 where it would finish. Another first-year with a big performance was pitcher Hannah Foust, who started the game in her collegiate debut, threw 4.2 innings and allowed just one hit and no earned runs, also striking out six batters. Classmate Amanda Amerman earned the save in relief duty, pitching the last 2.1 innings.
Game 2: DePauw 8, Susquehanna 5
After a scoreless first inning, DePauw would scratch across a run in the top of the 2nd on a sacrifice bunt, but SU answered in the bottom of the 2nd with three runs of their own, as Plesh picked up an RBI after reaching on a fielder's choice before Bean followed with a two-RBI single. Another run in the bottom of the 3rd gave Susquehanna a three-run cushion. But DePauw would slowly claw back, scoring one run on an RBI double in the top of the 4th before piling on four runs in the top of the 5th inning to reclaim the lead. Trailing by two, the River Hawks managed to cut the gap back to one in the 6th inning on a bases-loaded walk, but a two-run homer for DePauw in the top of the 7th made the score 8-5, where it would stay as Susquehanna could not score any more runs in the final frame. Bean, Ashley Warner, and Lexi Palumbo would each pick up two hits in the game.
Game 3: Susquehanna 8, #6 Belhaven 6
Susquehanna would again be working from behind in their first game on Saturday, as Belhaven jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Hailey Kaba would help SU cut into the deficit with a two-RBI double in the second inning, but Belhaven matched it with two more runs in the bottom half of the inning. From there, it was a slow climb back for the River Hawks. It would start in the 3rd inning, where Pavlik continued her impressive debut weekend with another home run, this a solo shot to center field to make the score 6-3. After a scoreless 4th inning for both teams, SU pulled within two after a run scored on a wild pitch in the 5th. Finally, it all came to a head in the 6th inning, where Warner would rip a two-RBI single to right field that tied the game at 6 each, before Emily Deitch stepped to the plate and reclaimed the lead for SU. She launched a home run over the center field wall, scoring Warner and herself to make the score 8-6, ultimately sealing the result as first-year pitcher Brianna Jones rode out a complete game to earn the first victory of her collegiate career. The River Hawks totaled a hefty 15 hits in the game, including three each for Bean, Kaba, and Pavlik, while every batter had at least one hit.
Game 4: #1 Chris. Newport 15, Susquehanna 7
Despite two runs in the first inning and a late comeback effort, SU was unable to keep up with the scoring pace of Christopher Newport, who scored at least two runs in five out of six innings. The Captains also had some impressive performances from their pitchers, with the three combining for 11 strikeouts. With the score just 3-2 in CNU's favor after the first inning, they would score eight unanswered runs over the next four innings before SU could respond.
The response came from Pavlik once again, with the first-year hitting her third home run of the weekend, a three-run shot to make the score 11-5. The River Hawks weren't done in the 5th inning, as they tallied two more runs thanks to more offensive contributions from first-year players. Madison Apostolakos picked up an RBI single before coming around to score on an RBI double by Stevie Shaak. But the comeback went no further, and CNU piled on four more runs in the top of the 6th inning for good measure, including two home runs in the inning. Beyond the hits by the three first-year players, Bean and Warner continued to be steady contributors with a hit each as SU totaled just five in the game.
Despite the split results, SU will feel highly encouraged by some strong performances against tough opposition, particularly with four players currently holding an OPS over 1.0. The squad will round out the weekend tomorrow with two more games, facing their first fellow Pennsylvanian foes in Arcadia University at 10:00 am, before taking on Ferrum College at 2:00 pm.
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--RIVER HAWKS--
