ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Cedar Crest College softball squad swept Keystone College (14-6, 14-4 CSAC) in a pair of Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) games on Saturday afternoon at Blaschak Field. The Falcons (14-2, 14-2 CSAC) claimed Game 1 with a walk-off home run, to defeat the Giants 13-12. In Game 2, Cedar Crest only needed five innings to handle Keystone, winning 13-4.
At the conclusion of Game 2, Cedar Crest honored the seven graduating members for the softball program.
"This team never ceases to amaze me," exclaimed Head Coach Kim Begley. "We played with a lot of heart today, we dug deep, and we put up the runs when it counted.
GAME 1: Keystone scored the first eight runs of the game, spanned over three innings, to take an 8-0 lead heading into the bottom of the third inning. The Falcons scored their first runs of the contest in the bottom of the third, scoring three times to cut into the deficit, trailing 8-3 after three innings. After a scoreless fourth inning, the Black and Yellow would storm back, scoring six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 9-8 lead. Cedar Crest would pad their lead with two more runs in the sixth inning, increasing their lead to 11-8, but Keystone would not give up. The Giants hit a three-run homer in the top of the seventh to take a 12-11 lead as Cedar Crest went into their last at-bats. With two outs and a runner on second base, graduate student Nicole Santaniello (Kissimmee, Fl./Osceola) hit a walk-off two-run home run, giving the Falcons a 13-12 victory.
Nine Falcons combined for 16 hits, with Nicole Santaniello (Kissimmee, Fl./Osceola) going 4-for-5, contributing four RBIs and scoring two runs, including the walk-off home run to help the Falcons claim the win. Graduate student Dallas Horning (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) had three hits, with a double, two runs scored, and drove in two runs. Seniors Patricia Dalton (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area) and Riley Tremblay (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) each had two-hit performances in the victory, with Dalton having two extra base hits, one being her fourth home run of the year and the other a double. She also plated three runners and scored two times, as Tremblay scored twice and was walked once in the ballgame.
The Falcons also have five members record a base hit, starting with junior Delaney VanBuskirk (Bridgeville, Del./Woodbridge), who hit a double that drove in a run and then scored a run of her own. Seniors Danielle Krispin (Tunkhannock, Pa./Tunkhannock) and Ashley Heller (Allentown, Pa./Parkland), and junior Rachel Savini (Wilmington, DE/Delaware Military Academy) each reached base safely and recorded an RBI. Krispin and Heller also scored runs in the win. Sophomore Renee Snyder (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) rounds out the hit column, and then scored a run in the third inning.
"Our seniors really shined today," continued Begley. "Especially with Nicole's walk-off home run, she came in clutch when we need her."
Graduate student Breanna Young (Easton, PA/Wilson Area) got the start in Game 1, throwing 2.0 innings. She gave up seven runs, three earned, on eight hits while facing 15 batters she faced. Young was replaced by freshman Corinne Mundy (Philadelphia, Pa./The Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush) in the third inning, where she threw 5.0 innings, allowed five runs on nine hits, and faced 25 batters. She would receive the win, giving Mundy her first win at the collegiate-level, and putting her overall record at (1-0).
"Corinne Mundy (Philadelphia, Pa./The Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush) showed up today in the circle to shut keystone down after a big inning and I am really proud of her composure," added Begley.
GAME 2: Cedar Crest came out swinging in Game 2, scoring six runs, four of them coming off home runs, in the first inning. The Falcons then scored two more in the second, and four more in the third to take an 12-0 lead after three innings of play. Keystone would manage to score four runs in the fourth inning, but the Black and Yellow would tack on another run in the bottom half of the fourth inning to put the game at its final score, 13-4.
Six different Falcons each recorded a hit, with five of them recording two or more hits in the game. Tremblay went 3-for-3 with three runs scored, a double, and a stolen base while Santaniello went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and score three runs. VanBuskirk blasted a three-run homer and had an RBI double for both of her hits, as Dalton went yard for the second time in the afternoon, leading the Falcons with five home runs this season, ending with three RBIs and scored a run as well. Snyder had two base hits, scored two runs, and drove in a run while Heller reached base once and recorded an RBI.
Junior Skyler Bilous (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) threw for 5.0 innings, allowing four runs, none of them being earned, and seven hits. She recorded four strikeouts, eight flyouts, and two groundouts in the 26 batters she went up against. Bilous earned the win in the game, improving her record to (7-1) on the year.
"This group of seniors work hard and fight harder. The leadership of these seven student athletes were a big reason why we walked away with two wins today," concluded Begley.
Cedar Crest will host their final CSAC doubleheader of the regular season on Monday, May 3, when they host the University of Valley Forge. First pitch is slated for 4 PM on Blaschak Field. 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!
