ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Cedar Crest College softball team split a pair of two-run contests to Muhlenberg College in a non-conference doubleheader at Cynthia L. Blaschak Field on Thursday afternoon. The Falcons came out victorious in game one, 4-2, and the Mules salvaged a split with a 4-2 victory in the nightcap.

Game One – Cedar Crest 4, Muhlenberg 2

The Falcons struck first in the opener with two runs in the initial frame. Graduate student Nicole Santaniello (Kissimmee, Fla./Osceola) drove in classmate Ashley Heller (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) with a sacrifice fly to right field. After a walk to junior Renee Snyder (Allentown, Pa./Parkland), senior Delaney VanBuskirk (Bridgeville, Del./Woodbridge) delivered a single through the right side, plating graduate student Riley Tremblay (Allentown, Pa./Parkland).

Cedar Crest added another in the third following a Snyder base knock to right center, sending Santaniello home to give the Falcons a 3-0 advantage.

The Mules trimmed the deficit to one (3-2) in the fifth when senior Kristen Oberg (East Windsor, N.J.) connected on a two-run single to left field, scoring sophomore Sabrina Reichelt (Mohegan Lake, N.Y.) and freshman Justine Bergara (Sylmar, Calif.). 

The Falcons plated an insurance tally in the sixth on a Heller single through the right side, scoring junior Reilly Mateljan (Friedens, Pa./Somerset Area).

Sophomore Corinne Mundy (Philadelphia, Pa./The Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush) tossed a complete game in the win for Cedar Crest, allowing two runs on two hits. She also had two walks and a strikeout.

Senior Cora Bridgers (Hamilton, N.J.) was tagged with the loss in the circle, tossing 2.1 innings. She surrendered three runs on five hits to go along with four strikeouts and a walk.

Heller had a perfect game at the dish for the Falcons, going 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

Game Two – Muhlenberg 3, Cedar Crest 1

Muhlenberg sophomore Raya Kunes (Middleburg, Pa.) scatteredfive hits over 7.0 innings to earn the victory. She allowed one run while striking out two and improved to 3-3 on the season.

The Falcons got on the board in the first inning when Santaniello drove in Heller on a two-out single.

The Mules pulled even in the third after sophomore Brianna Kessler (Sykesville, Md.) scored following a play were senior Sarah Karmazyn (Bridgewater, N.J.) was called out in the infield. The play allowed Kessler to come around and touch home.

The contest would remain scoreless for the next three innings.

Muhlenberg broke the one-all tie in the seventh, recording two runs. Oberg delivered a one-out sacrifice fly to center, scoring Kessler. In the next at-bat, Kunes hit a solo home run to right center in the 3-1 final.

Freshman BB Aquila (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) took the ball for the Falcons and pitched a complete game in defeat. She allowed three runs on 11 hits and struck out two without issuing a walk.

Heller led the way again for Cedar Crest, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Cedar Crest (5-6 overall) will begin conference play on Saturday, March 26 as the Falcons will host Rosemont College in a twinbill beginning at noon. Muhlenberg (6-8 overall) will stay on the road for a doubleheader at Kean on Saturday starting at 1:00 p.m. 

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