SELINSGROVE, PA - Susquehanna Softball split their Senior Day double header against Scranton on Sunday, highlighted by a 2-0 win in the nightcap that saw seniors make play after play to lead the team to victory. Before game one, Susquehanna honored the seven seniors on the team, commemorating
Amanda Amerman,
Madison Apostolakos,
Stevie Shaak,
Brianna Jones,
Hannah Foust,
Kaylee Smallen and
Katelyn Dugery.
Game One: Scranton 8 Susquehanna 3
- The Royals got things started in the top of the first inning with two runs after two RBI doubles. Jones was able to help respond for the River Hawks after crossing home plate on a ground out from Dugery.
- With the score at 2-1 after the first, Scranton answered right back in the very next inning with four runs. The Royals matched their four runs with four hits in the inning, while the River Hawks recorded two errors in the top of the second
- Susquehanna responded again with two runs in the bottom of the third after Katelyn Dugery's two RBI single helped cut into the Scranton lead. Alyssa Mayorca followed that with a RBI double of her own to slice the deficit in half 6-3.
- The fourth inning saw the final runs scored in the game, with Scranton scoring another two runs in the fourth inning to stretch their lead to 8-3. Emma Douglas, who started the game for Scranton in the circle, shutout the River Hawks through the final four innings to secure a game one win for her team .
- Dugery led the River Hawks in game one with two hits in her four at bats while also tacking on two RBIs. Amerman, Mayorca, Sydney Perez and Maddy Devine all also recorded a hit in game one.
Game Two: Susquehanna 2 Scranton 0
- The nightcap saw a very low scoring game played out, as both teams' ace pitchers started on the mound and pitched all seven innings. Jones got the start in game two for Susquehanna, while Douglas, already coming off a complete game in game one, started on in the circle in game two.
- In the fourth inning stretch, both pitchers allowed no runs with only two hits allowed each. Continuing the trend, both Jones and Douglas recorded three strikeouts through four innings. The hot start for both pitchers led to a struggle for both teams offensively.
- That struggle ended for the River Hawks in the bottom of the fourth, when Dugery hit a high fly ball to deep left field and watched it go over the fence for a homerun. The senior's third homerun on the year on senior day was the first home run for Susquehanna since March 7.
- The River Hawks, on the back of a shutdown performance from Jones in the circle, were able to gain an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Shaak hit a RBI single to right field to give Susquehanna the 2-0 advantage.
- Jones closed the game in the top of the seventh, being responsible for two of the final three outs in the ball game. Jones picked up the win in an intense pitching duel with Douglas, with Jones finishing with two hits allowed through seven innings while striking out eight batters and only walking two. Douglas ended her day impressively as well with eight hits and two runs allowed with five strikeouts and no walks.
- Dugery ended up leading the River Hawks again in the batters box in game two with another 2-3 performance. Devine went 2-3 in the box as well with a run, while Mayorca, Shaak, Isabella Sulesky and Elle Walasavage all recorded a hit in the nightcap.
Up Next for the River Hawks
- The River Hawks will close their season Saturday, May 2 when they travel to Wilkes-Barre to take on Wilkes for a double header conference series.
- The double header series holds big playoff implications for both teams, as Susquehanna ranks fifth in the landmark conference, trailing fourth ranked Wilkes. Both teams hold a 7-7 conference record, and only five teams enter the Landmark Conference Playoffs.
