GREENSBORO, NC (March 8, 2024) - The Susquehanna University softball team opened their 2024 season with a Friday afternoon doubleheader, hosted by Greensboro College. First, a loss to the host Pride 6-0, followed by a 7-2 defeat to the Rhode Island College Anchorwomen.
Greensboro 6, Susquehanna 0
In the first game of the year the River Hawk offense never got going, totaling just three hits the entire game off Greensboro starter Lauren Engel, while the Pride immediately jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first thanks to back-to-back hits off Susquehanna starter Brianna Jones.
Despite allowing two hits to the first two batters she faced, Jones settled in getting out of the inning with just the one run allowed and retired six batters in a row to find herself in the bottom of the third with two outs still trailing 1-0. However, Greensboro rallied with five two-out hits, the most devastating being a two-run homer from Makyiah Simmons to make it 5-0 Pride before the River Hawks got that third out.
From there the Pride never looked back, adding one more run in the bottom of the sixth to secure a dominant 6-0 win. Jones pitched six innings for the River Hawks allowing five earned runs off 10 hits. Susquehanna's three hits came courtesy of a double from Kaylee Smallen, a single from Lexi Palumbo, and a single from Zoe Bork.
Rhode Island College 7, Susquehanna 2
The second game of the afternoon saw the River Hawks once again fall into an early hole, as the Anchorwomen jumped out to a 4-0 off Susquehanna starter Amanda Amerman heading into the bottom of the second. This time the River Hawks responded with two runs in that inning thanks to a Katelyn Dugery RBI double and then two passed balls that brought Dugery home to cut the deficit to 4-2.
However, those were the only runs Susquehanna could muster. The River Hawks had opportunities with runners on first and second base in the third, fourth, fifth, and seventh innings but just couldn't get that big-time swing to bring in more runs. Meanwhile, Rhode Island College tacked on three more runs, one in the fourth and two in the seventh to bring it to the final score of 7-2.
Amerman pitched a complete game allowing seven earned runs on nine hits, while walking seven batters and striking out three. On offense Bork and Ashleigh Gerber had multi-hit games with Gerber going 2-3 with two singles and a walk, and Bork going 2-4 with two singles as well.
Susquehanna will take their show on the road to Florida for the rest of Spring Break with doubleheaders on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The first doubleheader will take place tomorrow March 11, starting with game one at 10 a.m. against Curry College, and game two against Milwaukee School of Engineering at 12:15 p.m.
