ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Cedar Crest College softball team lost twice to Notre Dame of Maryland University at Cynthia L. Blaschak Field in a United East Conference-Skye Division doubleheader on Friday afternoon.

The Falcons fell 7-5 in the opener and were then defeated 15-4 in five innings in the nightcap.

Game One – Notre Dame of Maryland 7, Cedar Crest 5

The Gators struck first with a pair of runs coming in the first inning, both coming off a double to left field by junior Bethani Newbold (Anniston, Ala.) to make the score 2-0.

NDMU added to its lead in the second with a sacrifice fly to center field by first-year Annabelle Hafner (Dundalk, Md.), which was deep enough to score classmate Kayla Bright (Hot Springs, Ark.) to extend the margin to 3-0.

Cedar Crest got on the board in the home half of the second after senior Anaya Duncan (Baltimore, Md./Franklin) drew a bases-loaded walk, plating sophomore Laney Ferraro (Philadelphia, Pa./New Foundations Charter).

The Gators responded with a pair of runs in the third and one run in the sixth to make the score 6-1.

The Falcons put up another tally after Duncan singled in junior Alexis Kline (Allentown, Pa./Lehigh Valley Academy Regional Charter) to cut the deficit to four, 6-2.

NDMU pushed across a run in the seventh, which was then followed by a late Cedar Crest rally as the Falcons scored three more times.

Junior Alex Mullen (Prospect Park, Pa./Interboro) and sophomore Natalie Hasert (Vernon, N.J./Vernon Township) crossed home on a fielding error while senior Kristina Cagle (Pittsgrove, N.J./Arthur P. Schalick) singled through the left side to score Ferraro for the 7-5 final.

Graduate student Jessie Leatherwood (Towson, Md.) secured the win in the circle for the Gators. She went seven innings and gave up five runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out six and walking three.

Senior Corinne Mundy (Philadelphia, Pa./The Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush) was credited with the loss. She surrendered seven runs on 11 hits while fanning two and walking one.

Leatherwood paced Notre Dame at the dish, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored.

Hasert led Cedar Crest with a 2-for-4 game with a run scored.

Game Two – Notre Dame of Maryland 15, Cedar Crest 4 (Five Innings)

The Gators were the first to score in game two, plating a run on a groundout from first-year Julianna Leatherwood (Towson, Md.). The play brought home Hafner to give NDMU the early 1-0 advantage.

The Falcons grabbed the lead in the bottom of the first. First-year Kate Gronkowski (Hanover Township, Pa./Hanover Area Junior Senior) crossed home on a throwing error while Mullen scored on a sacrifice bunt to put Cedar Crest in front 2-1.

Notre Dame then plated 13 runs in the third frame to go up 14-2.

The home team plated a pair of runs in the home half of the third. Ferraro got hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, bringing around Gronkowski. Mullen later scored to cut the margin to 10, 14-4.

The Gators added one more run in the fifth to make it the 15-4 final.

Sophomore Gena Donalds (Allen, Md.) secured the win in the circle for NDMU. She gave up four runs on six hits while striking out two and walking two.

Junior BB Aquila (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) surrendered 15 runs on 10 hits while walking three in seven innings in the setback.

Hafner and junior Charlene Torres (West Covina, Calif.) had two hits each for the Gators in game two.

Gronkowski paced the Falcons with two hits and two runs scored.

Cedar Crest (0-12 overall, 0-4 United East-Skye Division) will have a quick turnaround as it hosts Clarks Summit University in a league doubleheader on Saturday, April 6 starting at noon. Notre Dame of Maryland (11-7 overall, 4-0 United East-Skye Division) will next play at Hood College in a non-conference twinbill on Tuesday, April 9 at 3:00 p.m.

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