SELINSGROVE, PA - Susquehanna University softball paid a non-conference visit Tuesday to Messiah College to take on the red-hot Falcons. While the River Hawks fell short in both battles, including a back-and-forth 7-6 fight in the opener, the nightcap did offer a career milestone as pitcher Amanda Amerman struck out three Falcons to reach the 100-career strikeout mark, currently now with 101. 

Game 1: Messiah 7, Susquehanna 6 

Susquehanna dropped game one to the Falcons after a back-and-forth offensive battle. The River Hawks got on the board early when Myalynn Morales crushed a ball to right center field, pushing Hannah Roland across the plate. Messiah knotted the game back up at 1-1 after the second frame.  

The fourth inning saw offense from both teams, with the River Hawks prevailing with a 3-2 lead after the fourth. Hannah Roland singled down the first base line, earning an RBI when Julia LaRose scored. Morales earned an RBI walk, forcing Kaylee Smallen to score SU's third run of the afternoon. The Falcons cut into the SU lead, scoring a run in the bottom half of the inning. 

The fifth inning saw the River Hawks explode with offense, scoring three runs, taking a comfortable 6-3 lead. Lexi Palumbo earned an RBI double to center field, scoring Alyssa Mayorca. Following Palumbo's double was Savannah Patrone's single, pushing Palumbo from second base to home plate. Morales kept her career game, earning another RBI single, scoring Emily Deitch.  

Susquehanna held the 6-3 lead through the 7th inning, when the Falcons knotted the game up at 6-6, forcing an eight inning. The Falcons scored the winning run in the bottom half of the extra inning, winning game one 7-6.

Hannah Foust earned the start for the River Hawks, pitching a complete game. She allowed nine hits, tallying up four strikeouts against the Falcons. The SU pitcher falls to 0-5 on the season. 

Game 2: Messiah 9, Susquehanna 1 

The River Hawks drop the second game to the Falcons 9-1. The Falcons came out hot in the second game, scoring seven runs in the first two frames. The River Hawks cut into the lead in the fourth inning when Hannah Roland singled past the third baseman's outstretched glove, earning an RBI when Alyssa Mayorca scored the sole run for SU. Messiah added two insurance runs in the bottom half of the fourth and fifth inning, clinching the game 9-1.  

Amanda Amerman earned the start for the River Hawks. The SU pitcher stuck out three batters, pushing her career strikeout total to 101.  

Up Next For SU: Susquehanna drops to 9-16 overall on their season. Susquehanna has a date with Elizabethtown College on the holiday weekend in a Landmark Conference doubleheader. Susquehanna sits in third place in the conference at 5-3. The River Hawks continue to vey for a playoff berth with less than a month remaining in the regular season.