Big Inning Leads Brandywine To Sweep

ASTON, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine scored 10 runs during the fifth inning of game one and then held off SUNY Delhi's rally in game two, completing a two-game sweep of the Broncos on Friday afternoon. The Lions posted a 15-5 win in six innings during the opener and then claimed the nightcap 7-5. 

Game One: Penn State Brandywine 15, SUNY Delhi 5 (6 innings)

Brandywine entered the bottom of the fifth inning trailing 5-1, but erupted for 10 runs to take control of the game. The Lions sent 16 batters to the plate, racking up seven hits, to build an 11-5 edge.

Maddie Malfara (Ardsley, Pa./Abington) brought the score to 5-4 with a two-run single and two batters later, Haley Grossi (Monmouth Junction, N.J./South Brunswick) worked a bases-loaded walk to push the tying run across. After Cara Fabiano (Bristol, Pa./Bristol) put the Lions in front, scampering home on a wild pitch, Arianna Segich (Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City), Rachel Cherubini (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove) and Alexandra Szpindor (Pottstown, Pa./Pope John Paul II) delivered RBI singles in succession. Morgan Meoli (Woolwich Twp., N.J./Kingsway Regional) capped the inning with a two-run single.

The Lions put the game away in the sixth, tacking on four more runs as Cherubini's infield single plated one and Szpindor ended the game with a three-run home run over the left field fence, the first of her career.

Szpindor went 3-for-4 at the plate, driving in five runs, while scoring three times. Segich and Cherubini also scored three runs and collected two hits, as did Grossi. Meoli provided three RBI and Malfara drove in a pair.

Szpindor also earned the win in the circle, firing two innings of scoreless relief. She struck out one and allowed one hit.

Game Two: Penn State Brandywine 7, SUNY Delhi 5

Brandywine wasted no time taking the lead in game two, scoring four times during the first two innings, but had to hold off a late SUNY Delhi rally to complete the sweep.

Szpindor tripled in Cherubini and then scored on a groundout by Alyssa Sullivan (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) to give the Lions a 2-0 edge. One inning later, Maddy Dudley (West Chester, Pa./West Chester East) delivered a two-run single, doubling the margin to 4-0.

However, Delhi battled back, scoring once in the fifth before tying the game with a three-run sixth inning. Brandywine countered with three runs of its own during the bottom of the frame, retaking the lead on Meoli's pinch-hit single that plated Grossi. Szpindor added an RBI base hit and Meoli scored on an error to help Brandywine to a three-run edge.

The Broncos brought the tying run to the plate with outs in the seventh against Brandywine pitcher Taylor Baron (Chester Springs, Pa./Downingtown East), but Baron enduced a flyout to end the game and earn her first victory. Baron fanned five hitters over seven innings, while allowing five earned runs.

Five players tallied two hits for the Lions in the nightcap. Szpindor and Dudley both drove in two runs, while Cherubini crossed home twice.

Brandywine (7-11, 2-0 PSUAC) visits Penn State Schuylkill Saturday afternoon for a 12:00 pm doubleheader.