SELINSGROVE, PA - Susquehanna softball enjoyed a sunny Sunday to host Catholic in a Landmark twinbill. The visiting Cardinals held 3-0 leads in both games, though the River Hawks utilized aggressive baserunning in a four-run fifth inning to take the opener, 4-3. CUA held on in the nightcap to split the series with a 3-0 victory.
Game 1: Susquehanna 4, Catholic 3
Catholic struck first in the second inning, jumping out to a 3-0 lead. The River Hawks escaped the inning without taking any further damage. The third and fourth inning consisted of a defensive battle between the teams, as both universities could not get anything going offensively. The fifth inning was all Susquehanna as they took the lead 4-3. Alyssa Mayorca sent a dribbler to the Catholic pitcher advancing Bri Jones and Hailey Kaba. Kaba beat the pitch home, scoring the first run for the River Hawks. Mayorca stole second base, resulting in a throwing error by the Catholic defense, allowing Bri Jones to cross the plate. Kaitlyn Dugery reached first base on a fielder's choice, when the speedy Mayorca beat the play home to tie the game at three. Savannah Patrone grounded out to the pitcher, earning an RBI when Lexi Palumbo put the winning run on the board.
The River Hawks fended off the Cardinals in the final two frames, clinching the game 4-3. Bri Jones earned the start, adding to her fantastic season. The junior pitcher advances to 8-2 on the season. Jones allowed eight hits to the Cardinals, striking out four batters.
Game 2: Catholic 3, Susquehanna 0
Susquehanna fell in game two of the doubleheader conference series. Catholic scored in the first inning, the second inning, and finally in the fifth frame. The Cardinals defense allowed only one hit in the matchup. Alyssa Mayorca earned the hit for the River Hawks in the game two loss.
Amanda Amerman earned the start after being sidelined for an injury she sustained early in the season. Amerman inched one strikeout closer to the elusive 100 career strikeouts. The junior pitcher sits with 98 career strikeouts. She falls to 1-2 on the season.
Up Next:
The River Hawks sit with a 5-3 conference record, heading into the final weeks of the regular season. SU is tied with Scranton for fourth place in the conference, as they vie for a playoff berth. The River Hawks have a date at non-conference opponent Messiah University in a doubleheader on April 15. They head to Elizabethtown on Saturday for a road Landmark set.
