SELINSGROVE, PA (April 5, 2023) – After nearly a week off, the River Hawk softball team got back on the field at home, taking on non-conference opponent York College (PA) for a Wednesday afternoon doubleheader. SU started strong with a 5-4 win in game 1, but couldn't quite seal the sweep, falling 5-2 in game 2.
Game 1: Susquehanna 5, York (PA) 4
The offense got off to a great start for SU, with a two-out rally in the bottom of the 1st inning yielding two runs, thanks to a two-RBI single to center field by Rosemarie Mirabella. The scoring continued in the bottom of the 2nd, as Kassidy Smith led off getting hit by a pitch, stole second and third base, then came home to score on an Emily Deitch walk. After two outs followed, Lexi Palumbo came to the plate and ripped a double down the left field line, scoring Deitch and stretching the River Hawks out to a four-run lead.
Meanwhile, the River Hawks got a fantastic performance from first-year Hannah Foust in the circle, as she held the Spartans scoreless for five innings while fanning a career-high eight batters. She would complete 5.1 innings, eventually making way for Amanda Amerman, while York managed to get their first two runs of the game in the top of the 6th, before matching that total again in the top of the 7th, tying the game and setting the stage for a dramatic finale.
After sitting comfortably in the lead for much of the game, the River Hawks now faced the prospect of extra innings. But, they rose to the challenge, as Morgan Henry led off with a double to deep center field, followed by Brianna Jones reaching on a walk. Hailey Kaba then laid a perfect sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third with just one out. Smith then got on base with another walk, loading the bases. A strikeout put a second out on the board, and suddenly the scoring threat looked to have a chance of going by the wayside. But, showing her experience and poise, Erin Bean came to the plate and worked a great at-bat, ultimately achieving an elusive walk-off RBI walk.
Palumbo and Henry would lead the line with two hits each, while Mirabella, Kaba, and Meredith Pavlik had one each to give the River Hawks seven total. The team also was highly selective at the plate, drawing eight total walks.
Game 2: York (PA) 5, Susquehanna 2
A close affair, game two proved to be a pitchers' duel as both starters went the distance, with Brianna Jones in the circle for the River Hawks. After two scoreless frames to start out, Susquehanna got on the board in the bottom of the 3rd inning, taking a one-run lead on an RBI double by Hailey Kaba. However, the Spartans answered back with a run of their own in the top of the 4th. They then took their first lead of the day in the next frame, scoring two runs in the top of the 5th. Needing a response with time running out, the River Hawks got one back in the top of the 6th, as Zoe Bork came through with a clutch pinch-hit RBI single to center field.
York would restore and expand their lead in the top of the 7th though, as a two-out RBI triple scored a run before another single scored another, setting the score at 5-2 where it ultimately stayed. SU looked to have a chance for a two-out rally of their own, with Bean singling and Jones following it with a double. Kaba came up next and got great contact on a pitch, but unfortunately lined right into the glove of the third basemen, ending the game.
Jones took the loss, just her second of the season. She allowed five runs on eight hits while striking out four batters in her complete game effort. The River Hawks had just six hits in the game, with Bean getting two and being the only hitter to get multiple in the game. Three of their six would go for extra bases, with Jones and Kaba's doubles joined by a double for Palumbo.
SU now sits at 12-11 overall and 1-1 in the Landmark Conference, with a return to conference play on the horizon. They'll remain at home for their next games, a weekend doubleheader against Moravian University on Saturday, April 8. The first game will begin at 1 pm.
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--RIVER HAWKS--
