ROSEMONT, Pa. – The Cedar Crest College Softball program (3-1) claimed a pair of Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) games against Saint Elizabeth University (0-2) this afternoon. The Falcons took Game 1, 15-1, in five innings, then held off the Eagles for a 6-5 victory in Game 2.

"We had a great day being back on our home field," commented Head Coach Kim Begley. Today's doubleheader was a full team effort."

GAME 1:
Cedar Crest would start things off with scoring four runs in the first, then four more in the second for the Black and Yellow to take an 8-0 lead into the third. Saint Elizabeth and Cedar Crest both scored a run in the third, making the ball game 9-1, but in the sixth inning, the Falcons bats came to life and scored six runs to put the game at its final score, 15-1.

Eight different Falcons combined for 14 hits, with junior Delaney VanBuskirk (Bridgeville, Del./Woodbridge) leading the team, going a clean 4-for-4. VanBuskirk drove in four RBIs, scored three times, and had a double, scored two runs. Cedar Crest had three finish with two hits apiece, including sophomore Renee Snyder (Allentown, Pa./Parkland), senior Patricia Dalton (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area), and senior Danielle Krispin (Tunkhannock, Pa./Tunkhannock). Snyder crossed the plate four time and stole a base, as Dalton drove in three RBIs and recorded a stolen base, and Krispin scored twice, stole a bag, and drove in a run.

Senior Nicole Santaniello (Kissimmee, Fl./Osceola), crushed her first homerun of the 2021 season for the Falcons, a three-run homer that contributed to her five RBIs and one run scored. Seniors Ashley Heller (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) and Riley Tremblay (Allentown, Pa./Parkland), and sophomore Rachel Savini (Wilmington, DE/Delaware Military Academy) also recorded one hit in the contest. Heller reached contributed three runs scored and plated two runners, with Tremblay hitting a double and scoring once, and Savini stole a base and scored a run for the Falcons.

Begley added, "We had some big bats in the first game, specifically, our first long ball of the season by Senior, Nicole Santaniello (Kissimmee, Fl./Osceola)."

Junior Skyler Bilous (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) started in the circle for Cedar Crest, where she threw for 5.0 innings and faced 19 batters. Bilous allowed one run on five hits, struck out two Eagles and walked just one. Bilous earned her second win of the season, making her record (2-0) overall.
 
GAME 2:
After a scoreless first inning for both squads, Cedar Crest would get one run across in their half of the second inning, for a 1-0 lead. The Falcons would score two more times in the bottom of the fourth to extend their lead to 4-0, but the Eagles would get on the scoreboard in the fifth inning. Saint Elizabeth and Cedar Crest would each score a run in the fifth, pushing the score to 4-1, but the Eagles would score three in the sixth to tie the ballgame at 4-4. Cedar Crest quickly countered in the bottom of the sixth, reclaiming the lead at 6-4. Saint Elizabeth added one more in the seventh but the Falcons were able to hold on to the lead for the 6-5 win.

"The second game we had to buckle down and dig deep as it was a back and forth battle," continued Begley.

Four Falcons each recorded two-hit performances in Game 2, Renee Snyder (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, two stolen bases, and scored a run. Delaney VanBuskirk (Bridgeville, Del./Woodbridge) reached base twice and drove in a run. Riley Tremblay (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) stole a bag and hit a double to go with an RBI and a run scored, as Rachel Savini (Wilmington, DE/Delaware Military Academy) swiped a stolen base and crossed home plate for a run. There were also five other Falcons to reach on a base hit, with Patricia Dalton (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area) and Dallas Horning (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) hitting doubles in the victory.

Graduate student, Breanna Young (Easton, PA/Wilson Area), got the start in game 2, threw for 5.1 innings, giving up four runs, three earned, on nine hits against 24 batters. Young was replaced by junior Lillian Boltz (Levittown, Pa./Pennsbury) in the sixth inning, where she finished the game throwing 1.2 innings, allowing one unearned run and two hits in the nine batters she faced. Boltz earned the victory in Game 2, putting her record at (1-0).

"Our student athletes continue to impress me with their grit, passion, and enthusiasm for the game. I am excited for our home game against Cairn," concluded Begley.

Cedar Crest is scheduled to return to action on Tuesday, April 6 when the host Cairn University at Blaschak Field in CSAC action. First-pitch is slated for 3:00 pm. Be sure to tune in to cedarcrestathletics.com for all updates, live stats and live stream links.

For the full Cedar Crest Softball schedule, CLICK HERE!