CLERMONT, FL (March 12, 2024) - The Susquehanna University softball team suited up for another doubleheader in their second day of the Spring Games Tuesday afternoon, defeating Wisconsin Lutheran College 5-1 in game one but dropped game two against Macalester College 4-2.
Susquehanna 5, Wisconsin Lutheran College 1
Unlike previous games in this early season, the River Hawks would strike first early in the contest. In the top of the third Emily Deitch singled to left-center field and reached third after a sacrifice bunt by Nicole Plesh and a wild pitch from WLC starter Emily Brands. A two-out single from Hailey Kaba would bring Deitch home and make it 1-0 River Hawks.
The next two innings saw Susquehanna capitalize off crucial miscues by the Warriors. In the fourth, Lexi Palumbo singled and advanced to second after a fielding error by opposing shortstop Ashley Corley. She went to score after an RBI groundout by Ashleigh Gerber two batters later.
In the fifth, the River Hawks had two runners in scoring position with two outs, and a throwing error from WLC third baseman Lexi Martin brought both runners home to make it 4-1. An RBI double from Palumbo in the seventh gave the River Hawks some extra insurance, sealing the 5-1 win.
On the mound starter Hannah Foust and reliever Amanda Amerman controlled the game. Foust pitched three innings allowing one run off three hits, and Amerman got the win allowing three hits as well in four shutout innings. On offense four River Hawks had multiple hits, Deitch, Palumbo, Hannah Roland, and Katelyn Dugery.
Macalester College 4, Susquehanna 2
Game two also saw both sides make critical errors, except this time Susquehanna couldn't overcome them. After a clean first two innings from River Hawk starter Brianna Jones, the Scots totaled three runs in the third, two of them unearned.
After an Alli Johnson RBI double put Macalester up 1-0, a fielding error from second baseman Zoe Bork with the bases loaded brought in another two runs. Jones was pulled after another walk loaded the bases again, but Amerman, in her second outing of the day, got out of the jam with a strikeout and pop out.
In the bottom of the fourth Susquehanna got two unearned runs of their own to get back in the game. Palumbo started that inning with a double and advanced to third after a fielding error. Another error from Macalester catcher Mandy Morrical brought Palumbo home and sent Gerber to second, and Gerber scored on a Stevie Shaak RBI double to make it 3-2.
The Scots added to their lead thanks to another unearned run after an RBI single by Cheyenne Woerman brought home Elsa Church from second, making it 4-2. Susquehanna failed to respond in the last two innings as Macalester held on for the win.
Jones went two and a third innings allowing two earned runs off four hits while striking out three batters, and Amerman went four and two thirds' innings allowing zero earned runs off just two hits. Meanwhile, Tess Bojorquez pitched a complete game for the Scots allowing zero earned runs off four hits and striking out 11 batters.
The doubleheader split brings Susquehanna to 2-4 on the season and will have Wednesday off, but they'll be back on Thursday March 14 for another doubleheader against Wilmington College at 10:15 a.m. and Wesleyan University at 12:15 p.m.
