James Walks Brandywine Off A Winner As Lions Survive First-Round Scare

DUBOIS, Pa. – Jess James (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth inning as the top-seeded Penn State Brandywine softball team survived a test from No. 8 Southern Maine Community College, defeating the Seawolves 5-4, Monday night in the first round of the USCAA World Series.

James lined a single to first base, allowing Meghan Ferry (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester City) to cross home with the game-winning run. Ferry started the inning at second base and moved to third via error.

The game was tied 4-4 entering the bottom of the eighth after April Lewandowski (Atco, N.J./Hammonton) worked a scoreless top of the frame. Southern Maine advanced a runner to third base with one out, but Lewandowski struck out back-to-back hitters to end the threat.

Lewandowski tossed the final two innings in relief of Crystal Cassario (Levittown, Pa./Pennsbury) to earn the win, her 15^th of the season. She struck out three and did not allow a hit, while Cassario set a season high with 10 strikeouts through six innings in the circle.

Brandywine scored first as Lexi Bussenger (Bangor, Pa./Bangor) singled, stole second and used two wild pitched to cross home in the first.

The Seawolves scored three times during the second and third innings to take a two-run lead, but Brandywine fought back with a two-run third frame. Bussenger led off with a base hit and came around to score two batters later following a single from Kaylee Mushinski (Allentown, N.J./Allentown). Karly Rees (Oxford, Pa./Oxford) followed with a run-scoring single, plating Emily Reagan (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt).

James took advantage of a wild pitch to score the go-ahead run in the fourth; however, Southern Maine recorded back-to-back two out hits to tie the count at 4-4 in the fifth.

Rees went 4-for-4 at the plate to lead the Lions' 15-hit effort. Bussenger added three hits, two runs and two stolen bases, while Cassario notched three hits and James tallied two knocks, along with a stolen base.

For the second consecutive year, Brandywine will face No. 4 Penn State New Kensington in the second round of the USCAA Softball World Series. The game is slated to begin at 2:00 PM Tuesday.