DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – The Cedar Crest College softball split a non-conference doubleheader at Delaware Valley University on Thursday afternoon. The Falcons took game one, 19-4, in five innings and then was edged, 1-0, in game two.

Game One – Cedar Crest 19, Delaware Valley 4 (Final - Five Innings)

Delaware Valley got on the board with one run in the first inning on a single down the left field line by first-year Tori Bockrath (Collegeville, Pa.) to score classmate Kenzie Boyd (Lurgan, Pa.) for the 1-0 advantage.

The Aggies then tacked on three in the second inning to build a 4-0 lead. First-year Olivia Spofford (Yardley, Pa.) tripled in classmate Jillian Ulozas (Harvey's Lake, Pa.) to start things. In the next at-bat, sophomore Sierra Ripka (Souderton, Pa.) connected on a base-hit through the right side to bring home Spofford and then later in the frame, Boyd singled up the middle to send Ripka home.

Cedar Crest had a big third inning, tallying seven runs on five hits to grab the 7-4 advantage. First-year Natalie Hasert (Vernon, N.J./Vernon Township) delivered the initial run for the Falcons, bringing home classmate Laney Ferraro (Philadelphia, Pa./New Foundations Charter) with a single up the middle. Senior Brianna Lankford (Hanover, Pa./South Western Senior) registered a single up the middle to bring around graduate student Ashley Heller (Allentown, Pa./Parkland). After a hit to load the bases, sophomore Alexis Kline (Allentown, Pa./Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter) singled through the left side to plate Hasert. Following the play, Delaware Valley made a pitching change. After the pitching change, the Falcons drew back-to-back bases-loaded walks to make the score 5-4. Cedar Crest then picked up two more runs in the frame by way of a bases-loaded walks of Ferraro and Hasert for the 7-4 score.

After a scoreless fourth frame, the Falcons exploded for 12 runs on seven hits in the fifth. Cedar Crest started the onslaught with a bases-loaded walk from Hasert to bring home graduate student Rachel Savini (Wilmington, Del./Delaware Military Academy). The Falcons then added back-to-back scored on wild pitches to stretch the margin to six, 10-4. After another pitching change which was followed by a walk, senior Renee Snyder (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) singled up the middle to score Hasert. The scoring continued when Lankford crossed home on a wild pitch to increase the lead to nine, 13-4. Sophomore Alex Mullen (Prospect Park, Pa./Interboro) got in the action with a base-hit to center field to send home Kline. Savini then recorded her second single of the inning which went to right field and was deep enough to plate graduate student Delaney VanBuskirk (Bridgeville, Del./Woodbridge). The strong inning continued when Ferraro crossed home on a wild pitch and then Snyder finished the frame with a two-run single to center field, which plated classmate Reilly Mateljan (Friedens, Pa./Somerset Area) and Heller for the 19-4 score.

Junior Corinne Mundy (Philadelphia, Pa./The Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush) recorded the win in the circle for Cedar Crest. She gave up four runs on nine hits while striking out three and walking two in five innings. Sophomore Bailey Smith (Littlestown, Pa.) was credited with the loss for the Aggies. She threw 2.1 innings and surrendered 14 runs (11 earned) on 11 hits to go with five walks and a strikeout.

Snyder led the Falcons at the plate, going 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored. Savini concluded the contest 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and a run scored. Kline was the final Cedar Crest player with multiple hits, having a 2-for-5 day with an RBI and a run scored. Five other Falcons registered one hit each to close the category.

Ripka, Boyd, and first-year Madison Donnelly (Marlton, N.J.) guided Delaware Valley's offense with two hits each.

Game Two – Delaware Valley 1, Cedar Crest 0

The second game was a pitcher's duel as it featured eight total hits.

The first four and a half innings had no scoring as the Aggies pushed across the lone run in the bottom of the fifth. Senior Carly Mahal (Great Meadows, N.J.) singled up the middle to bring home Spofford for the 1-0 lead.

Cedar Crest made a late rally in the seventh, but were unable to get the tying run across. Lankford started the inning with a single to left field. Snyder then lined out to shortstop and Mateljan as a pinch runner advanced to second base, but on the next play, Mateljan would be called out to end the game in the 1-0 final.

Boyd was victorious in the circle for Delaware Valley. She only allowed three hits while fanning three in the complete-game effort.

Mundy had a strong performance in the loss, giving up just the one run on five hits. The junior struck out four and walked two in the setback.
Heller, Lankford, and Snyder had a hit apiece for the Falcons.

Cedar Crest (2-10 overall) will stay on the road for a non-conference doubleheader at Widener University on Tuesday, March 28 starting at 4:00 p.m. Delaware Valley (4-11-1 overall) will travel to Wilkes University for its next contests for a conference twinbill on Saturday, March 25 at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.

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