ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Cedar Crest College softball team lost a pair of games to Penn State Brandywine, suffering a shutout loss in the first game and a defeat in the second, with final scores of 8-0 and 13-4, respectively, on Wednesday at Cynthia L. Blaschak Field.

Game One – Penn State Brandywine 8, Cedar Crest 0 (Five Innings)

The Lions capitalized early with a four-run first inning and added another four runs in the fourth. Despite the loss, the Falcons managed one stolen base during the game.

Penn State Brandywine took an early lead in the first inning, scoring four runs. Senior Lexi Bussenger (Bangor, Pa.) initiated the scoring with a single and a stolen base, eventually scoring on an sophomore Emma McElroy (Mountainside, N.J.) single. The momentum continued with RBI singles from first-year Ava Rodgers (Gloucester City, N.J.) and sophomore Shelby DeCillis (Iselin, N.J.). By the end of the inning, the Lions led 4-0.

The fourth inning saw another offensive surge from Penn State Brandywine. First-year Valentina Capra's (Kenilworth, N.J.) single and stolen base set the stage for Bussenger and McElroy, who each contributed with hits that drove in runs. Senior Kaylee Mushinski's (Allentown, N.J.) single brought in two more runs, and Rodgers added an RBI double. This extended the Lions' lead to 8-0.

For the Falcons, sophomore Alexis Acevedo (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) pitched a complete game, recording two strikeouts over five innings despite allowing eight earned runs. First-year Madacyn Snyder (Wind Gap, Pa./Pen Argyl) contributed on the base paths with one stolen base. Junior Brooke Trentler (Whiteford, Md./North Harford) managed the game from behind the plate, catching one runner stealing.

Senior April Lewandowski (Atco, N.J.) delivered a dominant performance for the Penn State Brandywine, pitching five scoreless innings with zero hits and 11 strikeouts, earning the win.

McElroy and Mushinski led the Lions' offensive efforts, each contributing two runs and two RBI. McElroy also added a stolen base and a walk, demonstrating her versatility at the plate. Rodgers added depth to the lineup with two hits, including a double, and two RBI, enhancing the team's scoring opportunities.

Game Two – Penn State Brandywine 13, Cedar Crest 4 (Six Innings)

In the second game, Cedar Crest managed nine hits, including a home run, and plated four runs but was unable to counter a strong offensive performance by Penn State Brandywine, which featured three home runs and a decisive seven-run sixth inning.
 
The Falcons opened the scoring in the second inning with sophomore Kylie Mastillo (Moscow, Pa./North Pocono) reaching first on a fielding error and advancing to third. Senior Laney Ferraro's (Philadelphia, Pa./New Foundations Charter) bunt single brought Mastillo home, and Ferraro later scored on a single by first-year Sabrena Espinosa (Easton, Pa./Wilson Area). Cedar Crest led 2-0 after the second inning.

In the fourth inning, Mastillo extended the Falcons' lead by homering to left field. Despite a fielding error, the Lions managed to hold Cedar Crest to one run in the inning.

Penn State Brandywine took the lead in the fifth inning with an impactful offensive display, recording five runs. The Falcons was unable to respond in the bottom half, leaving the score at 6-3 in favor of the Lions after the fifth.

In the sixth inning, Penn State Brandywine further widened the gap with a seven-run performance. Cedar Crest managed to score one run when sophomore Abby Adams (Suffolk, Va./Lakeland) reached on an error and was driven in by senior Natalie Hasert's (Vernon, N.J./Vernon Township) single. The inning concluded with Cedar Crest trailing 13-4, the eventual final.

Mastillo led the Falcons with a standout performance, hitting a home run and scoring two runs while also driving in one run. Espinosa contributed with two hits and a run batted in, adding a walk to her offensive stats. Ferraro added to the team's efforts with a hit, a run scored, and an RBI, while also stealing a base. Erin Gray (Pennsburg, Pa./Upper Perkiomen) pitched five and one-third innings, striking out one batter despite allowing 12 earned runs on nine hits.

For the Lions, first-year Olivia Bowers (Webster, N.Y.) delivered a complete game victory, pitching six innings and allowing nine hits, one home run, and two earned runs while striking out two batters.

McElroy led the Penn State Brandywine lineup with six RBI, highlighted by a home run, contributing to her two hits and two runs scored. Mushinski also showcased her power at the plate with a home run and drove in three runs, adding two hits to her performance. Bussenger was effective on the bases, scoring three runs and stealing two bases, showing her speed as a key component. Sophomore Jordan DuBois (Southampton, N.J.) added a home run to her stats, driving in two runs and stealing a base.

Cedar Crest (14-14 overall, 4-6 United East) begins a six-game road trip, starting with a doubleheader at Penn State Abington on Saturday, April 18 starting at 1:00 p.m. Penn State Brandywine (19-7 overall, 10-0 United East) will next face Delaware Valley University on the road in a non-conference twinbill on Thursday, April 16 at 3:00 and 5:00 p.m.