ASTON, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine's offense racked up 24 hits and its pitching staff limited Stratford University to two runs in 14 innings as the Lions upped their home record to 8-0 this spring with a pair of victories on Tuesday afternoon. Brandywine was an 8-2 winner in game one and claimed the nightcap 5-0.
Game One: Penn State Brandywine 8, Stratford 2
Five players had multi-hit efforts in the opener, topped by a 3-for-4 performance from Alexandra Szpindor (Pottstown, Pa./Pope John Paul II), who also knocked in two runs. Haley Grossi (Monmouth Junction, N.J./South Brunswick) added two hits and two RBI, while Rachel Cherubini (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove) singled, doubled and scored twice. Arianna Segich (Ocean City, N.J./Ocean City) tallied a pair of bunt singles and stole three bases, while Maddie Malfara (Ardsley, Pa./Abington) collected two hits.
Segich's first base hit came in the bottom of the first inning. She then stole second and third before scoring on a throwing error for the opening run of the game. Brandywine added three more runs in the second as Cherubini doubled in Grossi and Szpindor followed with a two-run single.
Grossi's two-run base hit made the score 6-1 in the fifth, while a wild pitch and Stratford's sixth error of the game allowed the final two runs to cross home one frame later.
Cara Fabiano (Bristol, Pa./Bristol) struck out four, while pitching all seven innings to record her eighth win of the year. She retired nine straight batters after a single to start the game before the Cardinals struck for a run on three hits in the fourth, but Fabiano settled down, yielding just two hits the rest of the way.
Game Two: Penn State Brandywine 5, Stratford 0
Taylor Baron (Chester Springs, Pa./Downingtown East) twirled the first complete game shutout of her career in game two, scattering five hits and allowing just six base runners overall. Baron, who is now 3-0 in seven appearances this spring, allowed just two Cardinals to reach second base and none moved to third.
Nikki Velez (Gloucester, N.J./Gloucester City) paced the Lions' offense with three hits and two runs scored, while Cherubini reached base in all four at-bats, tallying a single and three walks, and scored two runs. Szpindor added two more hits for a five-hit day.
Alyssa Sullivan's (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) sacrifice fly scored Segich, while Cherubini crossed home via a wild pitch to give the Lions a 2-0 edge after one inning.
Brandywine tacked on single runs in the third, fourth and sixth innings to add to its lead. Cherubini scored on a sacrifice fly in the third and one inning later, she singled in Velez. Velez crossed home for the final run in the sixth on Fabiano's sacrifice fly.
Brandywine (15-13, 6-2 PSUAC) plays its final two non-conference games of the year next Tuesday at Cedar Crest beginning at 2:00 pm.
