Susquehanna Sweeps #16 Ursinus on the Road, 1-0, 5-1
COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. -- The Susquehanna University softball team swept a non-conference doubleheader from host and nationally ranked No. 16 Ursinus College, 1-0, 5-1, at Eleanor Frost Snell Alumnae Field on March 20.
Susquehanna (10-4 overall) received outstanding pitching from junior Cara Swerdlow (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield), who shut out Ursinus (8-2 overall) in the opener before earning another win after four scoreless innings in Game 2.
Swerdlow allowed just three hits and three walks in Game 1 while striking out six batters. She fanned two more hitters in the nightcap while allowing two hits and walk before giving way to freshman Sarah Hoffman (Laceyville, Pa./Wyalusing Valley), who finished the game for her first career save. Hoffman allowed five hits and no walks.
SU got all the offense it needed in Game 1 when sophomore outfielder Courtney Miller (Kendall Park, N.J./South Brunswick)--pinch-running for junior infielder Taylor Crawford (Matamoras, Pa./Delaware Valley HS)--scored in the fifth inning off of a sacrifice fly by fellow sophomore outfielder Lisa Finizio (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills).
Crawford led the inning off with a single before sophomore outfielder Sarah Dowzicky (Collegeville, Pa./Germantown Academy) advanced Miller with a sacrifice bunt. Senior outfielder Deanna Anderson (Coal Twp., Pa./Shamokin Area) pushed Miller to third with another single, setting the stage for Finizio.
Finizio also singled in three at bats in the opener. Teammate and senior catcher Kelli Holota (Spring Lake, N.J./Livingston) doubled as part of a 2-for-3 game. Crawford was also 2-for-3.
Junior infielder Brennan Balfour (Cape Elizabeth, Maine/Cape Elizabeth) led the Crusaders in Game 2. Balfour walked, tripled, homered, scored twice and drove in two runs. She has five HR already this year, one behind the Susquehanna single-season record set by Sarah Shaffer '07 Harrison in 2006.
Finizio went 2-for-3 with a walk in Game 2. She also stole a base and scored a run. Holota went 2-for-4 with a run batted in and another double. Crawford and fellow junior infielder Shelly Landis (Souderton, Pa./Christopher Dock Mennonite) were both 1-for-3 with an RBI. Landis also scored once.
SU scored twice in the fourth inning and three times in the sixth to win the second game. Ursinus scored in the fifth.
Next Games: Tuesday, March 23, at Dickinson (DH) (non-conference games), 5 p.m.
