Carlow Rallies Past Brandywine In World Series Opener

DUBOIS, Pa. – Three sixth inning runs were the difference as fifth-seeded Carlow University rallied from two runs down to top fourth-seeded Penn State Brandywine 7-6 during the opening game of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association Softball World Series on Monday morning.

All three runs scored with two outs in the sixth as Carlow pieced together four-straight hits and totaled five knocks overall during the frame.

Despite allowing a pair of runs in the first inning, Brandywine held the lead through five frames after plating four runs of its own during the opening inning.

The first five batters in the Brandywine order reached base in the first as Rachel Cherubini (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove) led off with a double, Meghan Ferry (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester City) walked and Destiny Brophy (Bristol, Pa./Bristol) singled to load the bases. Payton Landis (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) singled in the Lions' first run and Rebecca Sorrentino (Clifton Heights, Pa./Upper Darby) followed with a two-run base hit that put Brandywine on top. Two batters later, Lianna DeDios (Elmwood Park, N.J./Memorial) added Brandywine's fifth hit of the inning, a single that scored Landis.

Carlow got trimmed the margin to 4-3 with a second inning run, but Brandywine answered with Landis' single that scored Ferry, who singled to start the inning.

The Celtics again got within one in the fifth before Brandywine countered with another score. Cherubini reached on a fielder's choice and came around to score on Ferry's two-out triple to deep center field.

The Lions threatened with two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh, but a fielder's choice and a fly out ended the game.

Four players each tallied two hits for the Lions, who totaled 13 hits overall. Landis and Sorrentino both went 2-for-4 with two RBI, while Ferry and DeDios both added two knocks and a run batted in.

Sorrentino suffered her second loss of the season after allowing six earned runs and striking out one in a complete-game effort.

Brandywine (20-6) will face D'Youville in an elimination game Monday night at 7:30 pm.