Brandywine Blanks Neumann In Final Non-Conference Test

ASTON, Pa. – Crystal Cassario (Levittown, Pa./Pennsbury) spun a four-hit shutout and the Penn State Brandywine softball team claimed a 6-0, rain-shortened victory in six innings at Neumann Thursday afternoon during its final non-conference game. Game two was cancelled by rain.

For Cassario, it marked her third shutout of the season and Penn State University Athletic Conference-leading 10^th victory of the spring. She recorded five strikeouts, while allowing just four hits. Cassario helped her own cause with a 2-for-3 day at the plate that included an RBI double during a three-run fifth inning.

Payton Landis (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) also tallied a run-scoring double and a pair of knocks overall for the Lions, who pounded out eight hits in total. Landis started a two-out rally in the first, doubling in Meghan Ferry (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester City) with the game's first run. Karly Rees (Oxford, Pa./Oxford) followed with a two-base hit of her own that plated Landis for a 2-0 Brandywine edge through one inning.

Two frames later, Gianna Terpolilli (Hammonton, N.J./Our Lady of Mercy) sent a one-out triple down the left field line. She later scored on Ferry's sacrifice fly to up the margin to 3-0.

A two-out error allowed Ferry to score in the fifth, beginning a three-run rally for the Lions. Cassario followed with a double off the right-center field wall that allowed Rees to cross home. Pinch-runner Sam Bagosy (Washington Twp., N.J./Washington Twp.) slid in under a tag following a wild pitch to provide the Lions' final run.

Six of Brandywine's eight hits went for extra bases, including a pair of doubles from Landis, while Jess James (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) singled and stole two bags.

Brandywine (21-8, 10-0 PSUAC) returns to conference play Friday with a doubleheader at Penn State Fayette beginning at 2:00 PM.