By Rachael Cataldo, Asst. Sports Editor
The Susquehanna softball team (13-12, 4-4) was defeated in a doubleheader 4–0 and 7–5 against local, non-conference rival Lycoming College (18–12) on Tuesday, April 16 in Selinsgrove.
With the win, Lycoming retained the Cancer Awareness Cup after winning the annual meeting last year as well.
After two scoreless innings, the Warriors scored their first three runs in the third inning thanks to a homerun to left field by junior infielder Kayla Kline.
Lycoming stretched its lead to 4–0 in the sixth inning when freshman infielder Morgan Klosko singled to left center to bring Kline home.
Junior pitcher Amanda Seckinger took her first loss of the season on the mound for the River Hawks. Seckinger pitched all seven innings of play and struck out five Warriors.
Sophomore infielder Brittany Hebda recorded two hits for the River Hawks while junior outfielder Kasey Bost, senior outfielder Jill Ahrens, sophomore outfielder Katherine Fahsbender, and freshman catcher Katie Koch all contributed one hit for Susquehanna.
Both Susquehanna and Lycoming recorded six hits during game one.
Susquehanna fell short to Lycoming 7–5 in game two.
The Warriors were the first to get on the board once again and took a 1–0 lead in the top of the second inning. Junior infielder Madison Brown hit a two-out RBI single to right field to score freshman outfielder Isabella Gackenbach.
In Susquehanna’s half of the second inning, freshman pinch runner Katie Welker stole second base while Fahsbender stole home to tie the game 1–1. Welker then scored thanks to a single to right field by Koch. Hebda scored when freshman infielder Erin Bean flied out to center field to give Susquehanna a 3–1 advantage.
Freshman infielder Kiara Bryant reached base on an error by the Warriors’ short stop and sophomore infielder Kody Streeter scored unearned to give advance the River Hawks’ lead to 4–1 heading into the fourth inning.
After a scoreless fourth inning, the Warriors answered and scored four runs in the fifth inning to take the lead 5–4.
Susquehanna fired back in the fifth inning when Bryant singled to center field to score Fahsbender and tie the game at 5–5.
Lycoming stole the lead for good with a pair of runs in the sixth inning to bring the final score to 7–5 Warriors.
The River Hawks stole a season-best seven bases and recorded five runs on seven hits. The Warriors scored seven runs on 14 hits, including one double.
Bryant led the River Hawks with three hits as she finished 3-4 with one RBI. Bean went 2-3 as the leadoff hitter while Fahsbender scored two runs for Susquehanna. Senior pitcher and team captain Alexa Gonzalez suffered the loss on the mound after pitching two innings of relief for sophomore pitcher Gabby Bubba. Bubba struck out three while Gonzalez struck out one Warrior.
The River Hawks return to Landmark Conference play on Saturday, April 20 when they will travel to Huntingdon, Pa. to take on Juniata College in a doubleheader.
The Golden Eagles currently are tied for last in the Landmark Conference alongside Drew with a record of 1-7 and have an overall record of 11-18.
Despite the poor record, Juniata has some threats for the River Hawks to watch for. Sophomore infielder Ashley Clark leads the team with a batting average .439 and has five home runs alongside a .720 slugging percentage and 29 RBIs.
The two games will be must wins for Susquehanna as the doubleheader will conclude Landmark Conference play for the rest of the season.
Depending on the results, the River Hawks could rise as high as second in the conference or fall to fourth going into playoffs. Game time for the River Hawks will be at 1 p.m. in Huntingdon, Pa. while game two is scheduled for 3 p.m.