SELINSGROVE, Pa. - No. 1 Susquehanna broke open a scoreless game in the bottom of the sixth with four runs to finish with the 4-1 win over No. 4 Juniata.
Each team had two hits and no runs through five innings. The Eagles had runners on second and third in the top of the sixth, but Susquehanna got out of the jam and rallied in the bottom of the inning.
With two outs, Alyssa Cantalini got things started with a single through the right side. She moved to second on a passed ball and scored on a Juniata error. Pinch hitter Anna Heggenstalle singled through the right side and pinch runner Sam LaCoe advanced to third. Amanda Neveroski singled through the right side to score LaCoe and move Heggenstalle to second. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Bridget Rafter's double to left field.
In the top of the seventh, the Crusaders retired the first three Juniata batters to clinch the win and stave off elimination.
Cantalini went 2-for-3 for Susquehanna to lead the Crusaders. Ashley Cole pitched the complete game shutout scattering four hits with one strikeout.
Juniata had four players with one hit each. Aly Smith went 5.2 innings in the circle with two strikeouts and five hits. Kelsea Decker finished the sixth inning.
Susquehanna advances to face No. 3 Catholic in the Landmark Championship. Both teams will be battling for their first title in conference history.