Brandywine Extends Winning Streak To Eight Games

DOYLESTOWN, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine claimed both games of a non-conference softball doubleheader at Delaware Valley University on Wednesday as the Lions upped their winning streak to eight games with triumphs by scores of 15-6 and 4-2.

Game One: Penn State Brandywine 15, Delaware Valley 6

Brandywine jumped out to an early 5-0 lead and then pulled away behind an eight-run seventh inning to capture game one. The Lions collected 15 hits as Arianna Segich (Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City) and Maddie Malfara (Ardsley, Pa./Abington) both recorded three and Rachel Cherubini (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove), Alyssa Sullivan (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) and Alexandra Szpindor (Pottstown, Pa./Pope John Paul II) all tallied two.

For the seventh time in the Lions' last 11 games, Segich scored a first inning run, giving Brandywine a 1-0 edge when she singled to lead off and later scored on a DelVal error.

The Lions tacked on four more runs one frame later with the big blow coming off the bat of Szpindor, who was named PSUAC and USCAA Hitter of the Week earlier Tuesday, as she delivered a bases-clearing double to center field with two outs. One batter earlier, Cherubini singled in Morgan Meoli (Woolwich Twp., N.J./Kingsway Regional) with the Lions' second run.

The Aggies cut their deficit to just two runs, pushing three scores across in the third, but Brandywine added two insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning. Malfara singled and scored on via a DelVal error, while Cherubini doubled in Segich to make the score 7-3.

Brandywine put the game away one inning later, scoring eight times. After the first two batters of the frame were retired, nine-straight Lions reached base safely as Brandywine recorded seven hits and was aided by two more Aggie errors. Segich cleared the bases with a triple and scored on an DelVal miscue, while Szpindor and Sullivan recorded back-to-back RBI doubles. Meoli and Fiona Warren (Schwenksville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) produced consecutive run-scoring base hits to cap the inning.

Szpindor added four RBI to her team-leading total (27), while Segich drove in three, scored four times and stole two bases. Malfara crossed home three times and Cherubini and Meoli both scored a pair of runs.

Cara Fabiano (Bristol, Pa./Bristol) went the first five innings in the circle, while Taylor Baron (Chester Springs, Pa./Downingtown East) worked the final two. Fabiano upped her record to 6-4 this spring after striking out five and allowing three earned runs. Baron did not surrender an earned run and fanned three.

Game Two: Penn State Brandywine 4, Delaware Valley 2

Baron limited Aggie hitters to two runs on six hits over seven innings in the nightcap to earn her second victory of the season. She struck out two and walked just one.

Segich once again scored a first-inning run to give Brandywine the lead. She bunted for a single, stole second and later scored on Cherubini's groundout; however, Delaware Valley answered with a home run during the bottom of the inning to even the score.

The count remained the same until the fifth inning when the Lions struck for three runs to take the lead for good. Sullivan singled in Cherubini to put Brandywine in front. After Szpindor scored on an error, Meoli added the final run, recording a single to center that plated Warren.

Baron ran into trouble in the sixth when DelVal pieced together four singles to pull one run closer, but Baron got a fly out to end escape the bases-loaded jam.

Sullivan tallied three of Brandywine's seven hits and drove in a run to the Lions at the plate in game two.

Brandywine, which dropped 11-of-14 games to start the season, evened its record at 11-11 with its two victories on Tuesday. The Lions are back at home Thursday to host Penn State Hazleton at 3:00 pm.