Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box

Photo Gallery (David Sinclair)

GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Susquehanna University scored all of its runs in its final two at bats to pull out an 11-7 decision in its opening game against Gettysburg College, but the Bullets returned the favor in the nightcap with a nine-run second inning en route to a 10-4 victory in a non-conference softball doubleheader at Bobby Jones Field Thursday evening.

Every player that went to the plate except one posted a base hit in the two-game set for Gettysburg (6-5-1), led senior Kara Kempski (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford-Mendon), who went 4-for-6 with two walks, two runs, one double, and two RBI. Junior Megan Lott (Bellsville, Md./Pallotti) slapped a double and a triple among her three hits and scored three times, while sophomores Adrienne Rahs (Bethlehem, Pa./Saucon Valley) and Catrina DelGais (Suffern, N.Y./Airmont) combined for seven RBI.

Gettysburg jumped in front in its opening plate appearance in game one as Rahs and Kempski each posted RBI singles. The Bullets had a chance to tack on more runs in the frame, but one runner was picked off at third and another was thrown out on a play at the plate to end the inning.

Two more prime scoring opportunities formed in the third and fourth innings for the hosts as Lott tripled to start the former inning and senior Beth McCullough (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Homestead) and Kempski posted a single and double, respectively, to start the latter frame. In both cases, the ducks were left on the pond as the next three batters went down quietly.

After managing just two hits against McCullough in the first five innings, Susquehanna (8-4) struck in the top half of the sixth. Each of the first six batters reached base, including back-to-back doubles by Kelly Holota and Shelly Landis, and the Crusaders went on to score five times to take the lead.

Gettysburg answered right back in the bottom of the frame with an equal number of runs to retake the lead 7-5. Freshman Joy Hallfors (Mt. Airy, Md./Linganore) provided the big blow with a two-run double down the right-field line.

The Crusader bats stayed hot in the top of the final inning with Holota and Landis posting a run-scoring single and a two-run double, respectively, to push the visitors ahead 8-7. Susquehanna added three more runs in the inning to set the final score.

McCullough fell to 2-4 with the loss in the opening game. She allowed 10 runs (eight earned0 on nine hits and a pair of walks, while striking out six. Cara Swerdlow (4-2) earned the win despite giving up seven earned runs, 11 hits, and five walks.

DelGais, McCullough, and Kempski all picked up two hits in the game, while Hallfors came around to score twice.

Susquehanna was the first to strike in game two as Lisa Finizio slapped a lead-off double and came around to score via a passed ball and groundout. After quiet at bats by both teams, Gettysburg exploded with nine runs in the second inning. The Orange and Blue sent 14 batters to the dish and took advantage of five hits, four walks, and a pair of Crusader errors. The biggest blow came in DelGais' second at bat when she smashed a double to left-center to bring in three runs.

Susquehanna plated single runs in the third, fifth, and sixth innings, but was unable to generate any momentum to score more. Sophomore Lanie Parr (Washington, D.C./Academy of the Holy Cross) picked up the win to improve to 3-1 this spring. She allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits, while striking out three.

Lott and Kempski each posted two hits in the nightcap, with both the former and DelGais scoring twice.

Gettysburg begins its Centennial Conference schedule on Saturday, March 20, by hosting Muhlenberg College at Bobby Jones Field at 1 p.m.