MORRISTOWN, N.J. – The Cedar Crest College softball team salvaged a split at Saint Elizabeth University in a Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. The Falcons lost game one, 8-0, and held off the Eagles in game two, 9-7 to earn the split.

Game One – Saint Elizabeth 8, Cedar Crest 0 (Final – Six Innings)

The contest was scoreless until the fourth when the Eagles struck for three runs. First-year Savannah VanWinkle (Totowa, N.J.) singled in sophomore Isabell Edwards (Tolleson, Ariz.) for the opening run. First-year Kami DeGaetani (Nanuet, N.Y.) then connected on a two-run double to left center, bringing around VanWinkle and first-year Katerra Lutes (Westampton, N.Y.) for the 3-0 advantage.

Saint Elizabeth added another three in the fifth. Senior Amanda Lopez (Yuculpa, Calif.) registered the first run of the frame when she stole home. Lutes followed with a double to left field and Edwards and first-year Isabella Hanos (Monroe, N.J.) came around to score on the play for the 6-0 advantage.

The Eagles added a pair in the sixth. Lopez rounded out the scoring in the contest with an RBI groundout to first base in the, plating first-year Julia Stewart (Piscataway, N.J.). First-year Samantha Hemhauser (Pine Beach, N.J) finished the scoring with a single to third base, scoring senior Mercedes Rivera (Millville, N.J.) for the 8-0 score, the eventual final.  

DeGaetani was credited with the win in the circle, tossing six innings. She only allowed three hits while striking out three.

Junior Corinne Mundy (Philadelphia, Pa./The Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush) gave up eight runs (six earned) on eight hits while fanning three and surrendering four walks ln the loss.

Graduate student Ashley Heller (Allentown, Pa./Parkland), first-year Natalie Hasert (Vernon, N.J./Vernon Township), and graduate student Rachel Savini (Wilmington, Del./Delaware Military Academy) each had a hit in the game for the Falcons.

Edwards guided Saint Elizabeth at the plate going 2-for-2 with two runs scored.

Game Two – Cedar Crest 9, Saint Elizabeth 7

The Eagles built an early 2-0 advantage in game two after the first two innings. Edwards singled in Hemhauser while DeGaetani doubled to right center field, scoring VanWinkle.

Cedar Crest pushed across five runs in the third inning. Senior Renee Snyder (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) got things started when she singled up the middle to bring home sophomore Alex Mullen (Prospect Park, Pa./Interboro), along with Heller. Senior Brianna Lankford (Hanover, Pa./South Western Senior) followed with a single up the middle of her own, which brought around Hasert and Heller. Savini finished the offense in the frame when she connected on a single up the middle to score Lankford.

The Falcons added another three in the fourth to increase the margin to six, 8-2. Snyder singled up the middle and then a miscue in the outfield allowed Mullen and Heller to score while Hasert grounded out to first, which allowed Snyder to cross home.

Saint Elizabeth recorded two runs in the fourth and three more in the sixth to cut the deficit to one, 8-7.

Cedar Crest then added an insurance run in the seventh when sophomore Alexis Kline (Allentown, Pa./Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter) registered a one-run single to right field, bringing home graduate student Delaney VanBuskirk (Bridgeville, Del./Woodbridge) for the 9-7 win.

Mundy earned the victory in the circle for the Falcons. She tossed 6.1 innings and registered two strikeouts and two walks. DeGaetani was credited with the loss, surrendering four runs (three earned) on four hits over 2.1 innings.

Snyder led Cedar Crest, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Savini finished a perfect 2-for-2 with an RBI as the other Falcon with multiple hits.

Cedar Crest (8-12, 5-1 CSAC) will stay on the road for a conference doubleheader at Clarks Summit University on Thursday, April 13 starting at 3:00 p.m. Saint Elizabeth (12-5 overall, 5-1 CSAC) stays at home to square off against Baruch College in a non-league twin bill on Tuesday, April 11 at 3:00 p.m.  

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