LOS ANGELES, CA- Susquehanna softball split the double-header against Occidental College in Los Angeles, California. Game one consisted of a defensive battle between the two teams as Occidental College defeated Susquehanna University via a walk-off hit by a pitch batter. The second game of the doubleheader out on the west coast was the complete opposite of the defensive battle in the first matchup as Susquehanna defeated the Tigers by a score of 18-7. Amanda Amerman earn three strikeouts in the second matchup of the day, edging the SU athlete closer to 100 career strikeouts at 97.
Game 1: Occidental 3, Susquehanna 2
Susquehanna found themselves down 2-0 after the first inning of the third game out in California. The team from Pennsylvania would go on a defensive streak alongside their opponent, seeing both teams go scoreless in the second and third innings of the matchup. Susquehanna scored their first run in the fourth inning cutting into the Tigers lead off of a Melina Schwartz single to center field, earning the first-year player her first career RBI. Olivia Murray would be the River Hawk to cross the plate. The teams would go on yet another defensive battle through the fifth and sixth innings. The Tigers allowed the River Hawks to score the game tying run in the top of the seventh inning off an Elle Walasavage sacrifice fly, pushing Alyssa Mayorca across the diamond for the game tying run. Occidental would go on to load the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning, before the game deciding batter would be hit by the pitch, forcing the runner on third base to score.
Hannah Foust got the start in the circle for Susquehanna, going 4.2 innings with two earned runs on three hits. Ashley Carlson was pegged with the loss despite one strikeout. Susquehanna had four hits for the game, headlined by first baseman Melina Schwartz singling home a run in the fourth to bring in Olivia Murray.
Game 2: Susquehanna 18, Occidental 7 (6 Innings)
Susquehanna started the game out hot scoring three runs in the first inning before the Tigers got one back in the bottom. The River Hawks offense kept the pressure on the Tigers, scoring an additional two runs in the second inning. Heading into the third inning was all the same for the orange and maroon as they would continue their hot offensive streak scoring and additional two runs, to push their growing lead to 7-1 in favor of the River Hawks. Occidental cut into the SU lead tacking on three runs in the fourth inning. This would not deter Susquehanna's offensive rout as they would go on to score seven additional runs in the fifth inning. The Tigers scored three runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning to avoid the run rule decision. The sixth inning would be the deciding factor for the River Hawks as they would earn their first win of the season, scoring their final four runs of the matchup. Occidental would be held scoreless by Hannah Foust as she would face five batters in the inning.
The River Hawks' bats erupted for 17 hits, including five doubles, one apiece from Hailey Kaba, Lexi Palumbo, Katelyn Dugery, Hannah Roland, as well as pitcher Amanda Amerman, who batted 3-for-3 to help her own cause in the win after striking out three batters over four innings and allowing three earned runs on four hits. Dugery was the breadwinner of the run production with a career-best six RBIs, in a 3-for-3 day, while drawing two walks to reach base five times. The highlights of her day were a bases-clearing double in the fifth that brought home three and ended up with her standing on third to score the next run to make it 12-4, followed by a two-RBI single in the sixth to lead 16-7. Lexi Palumbo had three RBIs in in a 3-for-4 day with one walk, including a two-RBI double in the second to take a 5-1 lead. Pitchers Ashley Carlson and Hannah Foust came on to pitch one inning apiece to close out the win, with both holding Occidental to one hit over the fifth and sixth innings on 13 batters faced.
Up Next for SU: Susquehanna advances to 1-3 on the season after the offensive showcase at Occidental College. Susquehanna continues their season in California after a short break, heading out to take on Chapman University in a double-header. The first pitch is slated for 3 PT/6 ET, with the second matchup slated for 5 PT/8 ET.
