ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Cedar Crest College softball team picked up a split with Saint Elizabeth University in a United East Conference-Skye Division doubleheader on Thursday afternoon at Cynthia L. Blaschak Field. The Eagles took game one, 6-4, and then the Falcons prevailed in game two, 9-2.

Game One – Saint Elizabeth 6, Cedar Crest 4

Saint Elizabeth plated four runs in the second inning to snag the early advantage. First-year Jadyn Barker (Hammonton, N.J.) started the scoring when she connected on a base hit to center field, bringing around sophomore Abigail Becker (Myerstown, Pa.) and first-year Mia Testa (Denville, N.J.). Senior Isabell Edwards (Tolleson, Ariz.) then followed with a two-run single to right field, scoring Barker and sophomore Samantha Hemhauser (Pine Beach, N.J.) for the 4-0 lead.

The Eagles added a pair of runs in the third to stretch its margin to 6-0. Becker recorded a triple to left field, scoring Testa, while Becker touched home on a single through the left side by Hemhauser.

Cedar Crest notched one run in the home half of the third. First-year Kate Gronkowski (Hanover Township, Pa./Hanover Area Junior Senior) drove in senior Corinne Mundy (Philadelphia, Pa./The Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush) with an infield groundout to make the score 6-1.

The Falcons made one final rally in the sixth inning. Sophomore Laney Ferraro (Philadelphia, Pa./New Foundations Charter) came home to score on an error while Mundy recorded a single through the left side, scoring junior Anaya Duncan (Baltimore, Md./Franklin) and senior Kristina Cagle (Pittsgrove, N.J./Arthur P. Schalick) to trim the lead to 6-4, the eventual final.  

Sophomore Kami DeGaetani (Nanuet, N.Y.) was the winning pitcher in game one, tossing seven innings. She allowed four runs on eight hits while striking out two.

Mundy was tagged with the loss. She surrendered six runs on 10 hits while fanning two and walking one.

Barker guided St. Elizabeth, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored.

Mundy paced Cedar Crest at the plate, going a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. Sophomore Natalie Hasert (Vernon, N.J./Vernon Township) chipped in a multi-hit performance, going 2-for-4.

Game Two – Cedar Crest 9, Saint Elizabeth 2

The Eagles struck first in game two with one run in the top of the first frame. First-year Anna Popola (Berkley Heights, N.J.) singled to center field to plate Barker to put the visitors ahead by a 1-0 score.

The Falcons grabbed the lead in the bottom of the first inning on a two-run double down the left field line from junior Alexis Kline (Allentown, Pa./Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter). The two-bagger brought home Gronkowski and Hasert to make it a 2-1 score.

St. Elizabeth pulled even in the fourth after Aimee Vega delivered a pinch-hit double to left center field, bringing around junior Sydney Rawlings (Hamilton, Ohio) to tie the game at two.

Cedar Crest broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth, plating six runs. Cagle drove in Ferraro and Kline with a single up the middle. Duncan followed with her first career home run. Gronkowski hit a triple down the right field line, plating Faw. The last run came after Gronkowski touched home on a single from junior Alex Mullen (Prospect Park, Pa./Interboro) to extend the score to 8-2.

The Falcons tacked on an insurance run in the sixth as Hasert drove in Mundy on a groundout to make it the 9-2 final score.

Junior BB Aquila (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) registered her first of the season in the circle, tossing a complete game. She only allowed two runs on two hits while striking out one and walking one.

First-year Gabby Cummings (Edmonds, Wash.) was credited with the loss for the Eagles. She gave up seven runs on seven hits while walking one.

Every batter in the Cedar Crest lineup registered at least one hit. Gronkowski led the way, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Cedar Crest (3-19 overall, 3-7 United East-Skye Division) will welcome in the University of Valley Forge for a league twinbill on Saturday, April 20 starting at noon. St. Elizabeth (10-13 overall, 5-5 United East-Skye Division) will stay on the road for a conference doubleheader at Clarks Summit University on Saturday beginning at 1:00 p.m.

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