(Selinsgrove, Pa.) – The Dickinson softball team dropped a pair of game in a non-conference double-header at Susquehanna University on Tuesday afternoon. The Crusaders found some offense in the opener, winning 13-2 before holding on in the nightcap, 2-1.
The Red Devils struck first, scoring in the top of the first inning. Katie Swade (New Freedom, Pa./Susquehannock) opened the game with a single and advanced on a walk from Nicole Torincasi (King's Park, N.Y./King's Park) and single from Grace Edelson (Basking Ridge, N.J./Villa Walsh). Swade came in to score on an RBI from Casey Ditzler (Cleona, Pa./Annville-Cleona), reaching on a fielder's choice.
First-year Nicole Clayton (Chadds Ford, Pa./Garnet Valley) hit a two-out double in the second and immediately came in as senior Jay Abell (Glenn Dale, Md./Elizabeth Seton) doubled as well to switch places and put Dickinson up, 2-0.
Susquehanna countered with three runs in the bottom of the second inning, recording four base-hits, including a two-RBI single by Brianna Murphy. Lauren Creamer led-off the third inning with a double, triggering a two-run inning as the Crusaders stretched the lead to 5-0.
The hosts erupted with an eight-run Heather Pearson drove in two runs before Murphy knocked in two more with a double. McKayla Brady tallied a pair of RBIs with a single as well to highlight the inning as Susquehanna claimed game one, 13-2.
Murphy led the way with two hits and four RBIs while Pearson added two hits and three RBIs in game one.
Swade started game two with another base-hit but was stranded on second. Susquehanna moved a runner to third in the second inning but the Devils were able to hold. They came away unscathed again in the third, despite facing a second and third situation.
The Crusaders finally did break through in the fourth, scoring twice for a 2-0 lead. Creamer singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Leigh Ann Greenwald and Pearson connected on back-to-back singles to bring in Creamer before Brooke Kohler added an RBI to scored Greenwald.
The Red Devils looked to rally in the top of the seventh, but came up a run short. Torlincasi doubled to lead-off the inning and would come around on an RBI single from senior Becca Garlinger (Enola, Pa./East Pennsboro).
The Crusaders were able to close out the inning to secure the 2-1 win and complete the two-game sweep. Emily Rosenberg (Fredericksburg, Va./Massaponax) scattered six hits while recording five strikeouts for the Red Devils.
The Devils were held to just three hits as Morgan Lewis improved to 13-3 with the win, recording five strikeouts in game two.
The Red Devils slip to 15-18 overall. They travel to Albright College on Thursday for a 3:00 pm double-header with the Lions.
