Brandywine Starts Conference Play With Sweep

ASTON, Pa. – The Penn State Brandywine softball team opened Penn State University Athletic Conference action by sweeping Penn State Scranton on Friday afternoon. The Lions claimed victories by scores of 15-0 and 14-0.

Game One: Penn State Brandywine 15, Penn State Scranton 0

Nine of Brandywine's 16 hits went for extra bases as the Lions won going away, 15-0.

Kaylee Mushinski (Allentown, N.J./Allentown) went 4-for-4, finishing a triple shy of the cycle, scored three runs and knocked in two, while Crystal Cassario (Levittown, Pa./Pennsbury) doubled twice, tripled, and collected four RBI. Payton Landis (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) and Karly Rees (Oxford, Pa./Oxford) both tallied three hits and Meghan Ferry (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester City) drove in three runs.

Isabella Hurta (Colts Neck, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) blanked Scranton for 4.0 innings to earn the win, while Sarah Moore (New Holland, Pa./Pequea Valley) struck out the side in the fifth. Hurta recorded eight strikeouts, a season-high.

Mushinski, Landis and Rees recorded consecutive run-scoring hits to begin a seven-run first inning. Cassario cleared the bases with a triple and Lexi Bussenger (Bangor, Pa./Bangor) capped the frame by pushing Cassario across with a base hit.

Landis and Cassario tacked on RBI doubles in the second before Brandywine used the long ball to add five more scores in the fourth. After a Bussenger run-scoring single, Ferry went deep for the first time this season, launching a three-run home run over the left field fence. Mushinski made in back-to-back home runs by legging out an inside-the-park home run to right field.

Game Two: Penn State Brandywine 14, Penn State Scranton 0

Brandywine eased to another lopsided victory in the nightcap, winning 14-0.

Bussenger extended her hitting streak to 14-straight games with a trio of singles. She also stole two bases and scored twice, while Ferry, Jess James (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury), Becky Valente (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford) and Sam Gonchar (Brick Township, N.J./Monroe Township) all had two hits.

RBI singles by James and Gonchar highlighted a six-run first inning for the Lions. Brandywine added six more markers in the second, including Ferry's run-scoring triple and RBI base hits from Mushinski and Valente. Valente also drove in a run with a double in the fourth.

Jackie Capers (Enola, Pa./East Pennsboro) and Moore combined on the shutout in the circle. Capers fanned five and allowed three hits during the first four innings and Moore recorded her second scoreless frame of the day in the fifth.

Brandywine (9-5, 2-0 PSUAC) visits Penn State Hazleton Sunday morning at 10:00 AM at Bloomsburg Area High School.