Crusaders Sweep Finale On Spring Break Trip

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Susquehanna University softball team closed out its eight-game season-opening trip to the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex with a pair of wins against the University of Rochester and Alvernia College. Susquehanna won the opener 8-2 and went on to beat Alvernia in eight innings by a score of 8-4.

Led by catcher Kelli Holota (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) who was 3-for-4 with two doubles, the Crusaders tallied 12 hits en route to an 8-2 win over the Yellowjackets. Third baseman Megan McCurley (Emmaus, Pa./Emmaus) also connected with three of four while Bryn Whitmire (Lederach, Pa./Souderton Area) and Taylor Crawford (Matamoras, Pa./Delaware Valley) each went 2-for-4.

Freshman pitcher Lindsay Melton (West Chester, Pa./East) nabbed her first win of the season yielding two runs on two hits while walking two and striking out five.

In the second match up of the day, the Susquehanna Crusaders beat the Crusaders of Alvernia College in eight innings. Tied at four apiece, the orange and maroon tallied four additional runs in the eighth inning to end their spring break trip with a 8-4 win bringing their overall record to 4-4.

Gretchen Halsey (Pottsville, PA/Pottsville) pitched the first five innings before being relieved by freshman Cara Swerdlow (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) in the sixth. Swerdlow allowed only one hit while striking out seven batters to earn her second collegiate victory.

Susquehanna tallied 13 hits in game two, five of which came in the eighth frame. Junior Laurie Blaszka (Washington, N.J./Warren Hills Regional) led Susquehanna with two singles and a home run while Crawford, Holota and pinch hitter Kim Rubino (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany) each were 2-for-5.