Brandywine Blanks Schuylkill In Series Opener

MEDIA, Pa. -- Penn State Brandywine pitchers twirled a pair of shutouts as the Lions opened a six-game Penn State University Athletic Conference softball series by sweeping Penn State Schuylkill on Wednesday. Rebecca Sorrentino (Clifton Heights, Pa./Upper Darby) tossed a shutout in a 5-0 game one victory and Rebecca Halford (Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley) was the winner in game two, a 12-0, five-inning triumph.

Game One: Penn State Brandywine 5, Penn State Schuylkill 0

Sorrentino struck out six and scattered three singles over 7.0 innings to earn her third victory in four decisions this spring. The shutout was the second of the year for Sorrentino, who also had two hits and two runs batted in at the plate.

The game was scoreless until the third inning when Brandywine struck for its first two runs. Payton Landis (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) recorded a run-scoring single, plating Meghan Ferry (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester City), who walked  to open the frame, and Jacie Sparacino (Collegeville, Pa./Spring-Ford) followed three batters later with a RBI single to center that scored Landis.

Three more runs crossed home for the Lions in the sixth as Ferry led off with a triple and scored along with Landis on Sorrentino's double. Haley Grossi (Monmouth Junction, N.J./South Brunswick) added a two-base hit to score Sorrentino and provide the game's final margin.

Brandywine collected a season-high 12 hits, including two-hit performances from Sorrentino, Ferry, Grossi and Rachel Cherubini (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove).

Game Two: Penn State Brandywine 12, Penn State Schuylkill 0 (Five innings)

Two big offensive innings were more than enough for Halford, who fired her second shutout in as many days and third of the spring. Halford surrendered just two hits, both singles, while striking out three to even her record at 3-3.

The Brandywine offense tallied 11 more hits, led by a 3-for-3 performance from Grossi. Brophy added two doubles and two RBI, while Lianna DeDios (Elmwood Park, N.J./Memorial) recorded two hits and drove in three runs.

Six of Brandywine's first seven batters reached safely in the bottom of the first as the Lions put a five spot on the board. Grossi plated Ferry with a base hit and DeDios followed with a two-run single to highlight the frame.

Seven more runs scored in the third. Ferry and Brophy produced consecutive two-run doubles, while Grossi drove in two with a triple and scored on DeDios' base hit.

Brandywine (6-4, 6-4 PSUAC) and Schuylkill continue their six-game series Friday afternoon at Maple Zone. First pitch is set for 3:00 pm.