Katy Steffen
Katy Steffen

Brandywine Tops RMU 11-3; Moves On At USCAA World Series

DUBOIS, Pa. – Penn State Brandywine won its second elimination game of the day, besting Robert Morris University-Springfield (Ill.) by a final count of 11-3 in six innings on Monday night and is one-of-six teams that will enter Tuesday still in contention for the USCAA Softball Championship.

After scoring 15 runs on 12 hits against Beaver earlier Monday, Brandywine's offense added 10 more hits and 11 runs versus the Eagles. The Lions also took advantage of four RMU errors, scoring four unearned runs.

Alexa Anderson (West Deptford, N.J./West Deptford), who hit for the first cycle in Brandywine history against Beaver, added two more hits, extending her hitting streak to 15 games, while also knocking in two runs. Katy Steffen (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) went 3-for-4 at the plate as her hit streak reached 14 games and collected five RBI. Arianna Segich (Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City) tallied three bunt singles, scored three runs and stole a pair of bases.

Brandywine jumped in front 5-0 in the third, plating five runs on just three hits, including a two-run single from Steffen. The Lions added to the lead by scoring three more times in the fourth, capped by an Anderson RBI base hit.

RMU got two runs back during the bottom of the frame, but Brandywine tacked on three more in the sixth when Steffen plated Segich and Anderson with a single and then scored via an Eagle error.

Katie DeStefano (Kennett Square, Pa./Kennett) picked up her 22nd win of the season after surrendering three runs (one earned) on five hits in six innings in the circle. She fanned a pair of Eagles, giving her 100 strikeouts for the season.

Brandywine (27-9-1) faces Carlow Tuesday morning at 10:00 am. The Lions have faced Carlow twice previously at the World Series, dropping both decisions, including a 4-2 setback last season. A victory over the Celtics would assure Brandywine of a third-straight top-four finish at the USCAA World Series.