HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – The Cedar Crest College softball team was edged in a pair of close games at Centenary University in a non-league matchup on Monday afternoon. The Cyclones took game one by a 3-2 score and then held off the Falcons, 9-7, in the nightcap.
Game One – Centenary 3, Cedar Crest 2
Centenary struck first with a single run in the third inning on an RBI triple to left field from the bat of graduate student Maggie Lenahan (Rockaway, N.J.). The three-bagger brought around senior Ashley Romano (Sandyston, N.J.) for the 1-0 lead.
Cedar Crest jumped in front with a pair of tallies in the fifth. Sophomore
Natalie Hasert (Vernon, N.J./Vernon Township) drove in senior
Anaya Duncan (Baltimore, Md./Franklin) on a double to right field while first-year
Kate Gronkowski (Hanover Township, Pa./Hanover Area Junior Senior) connected on a triple to right field, scoring Hasert to make the score 2-1.
The Cyclones reclaimed the lead for good in the sixth, plating a pair of runs. Junior Jaelynn Miller (Oxford, N.J.) homered to initiate the scoring and then junior Carolyn Rosenberg (Little Falls, N.J.) crossed home on a double to right field from junior Madison Passanante (Bloomingdale, N.J.) for the 3-2 score.
Miller picked up the win in the circle for Centenary. She gave up two runs on seven hits while striking out 10 and walking just one.
Junior
BB Aquila (Whitehall, Pa./Whitehall) took the loss for the Falcons. She gave up three runs on five hits to go along with a walk and a strikeout.
Hasert guided Cedar Crest at the plate, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Game Two – Centenary 9, Cedar Crest 7
The Cyclones started game two with a pair of runs in the first inning. Rosenberg delivered a triple to right field to bring home senior Jessica Burlew (Hopatcong, N.J.). Rosenberg later came around to score on a base hit by junior Sierra Kaye (Rockaway, N.J.) to put the home team ahead by a 2-0 score.
Centenary tacked on another run in the third frame when Rosenberg came home on a single from graduate student Chloe Wright (Butler, N.J.) to extend its margin to 3-0.
The Falcons grabbed the lead with a four-run fourth inning. Gronkowski starting things off with a single to center field, which scored Hasert. Gronkowski then came around to score on an error in the infield. Junior
Alex Mullen (Prospect Park, Pa./Interboro) also scored on an error while sophomore
Laney Ferraro (Philadelphia, Pa./New Foundations Charter) doubled in senior
Kristina Cagle (Pittsgrove, N.J./Arthur P. Schalick) to make the score, 4-3, in favor of Cedar Crest.
The Cyclones plated across six runs in the fourth to snag the 9-4 advantage.
The Falcons made one final rally, scoring three runs in the fifth. First-year
Brooke Trentler (Whiteford, Md./North Harford) crossed home on a wild pitch. Mullen drove in Hasert on a sacrifice fly to left field. Gronkowski registered the final run for Cedar Crest in the 9-7 final.
Senior Julia Campen (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J.) tossed six innings in the victory for Centenary. She surrendered four runs on five hits to go along with four strikeouts.
Senior
Corinne Mundy (Philadelphia, Pa./The Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush) was given the loss. She gave up nine runs on 15 hits and added one strikeout.
Hasert led the Falcons in game two, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
Rosenberg and Wright had three hits each for the Cyclones.
Cedar Crest (1-15 overall) will resume conference play at Cairn University in a doubleheader on Saturday, April 13 at 11:00 a.m. Centenary (15-4 overall) stays home to host Gwynedd Mercy University on Saturday at noon.
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