Brandywine Downs Westminster And Heidelberg

CLERMONT, Fla. – Penn State Brandywine outslugged Westminster 10-7 and Isabella Hurta (Colts Neck, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) spun a two-hit shutout in a 5-0 victory over Heidelberg as the Lions' softball team claimed a pair of victories in Florida Tuesday afternoon.

Game One: Penn State Brandywine 10, Westminster 7

Brandywine produced 10 runs on 11 hits as the Lions rallied from a three-run deficit to defeat Westminster 10-7 during the Lions' first game of the day.

Emma McElroy (Mountainside, N.J./Governor Livingston) was 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored, while Lexi Bussenger (Bangor, Pa./Bangor) and Madie Culbertson (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) both collected two hits. Bussenger also scored two runs and stole a pair of bases, while Ava Craddock (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) and Jordan DuBois (Southampton, N.J./Seneca) both crossed home twice.

The Lions trailed 3-0 going to the third inning before striking for their first four runs of the day. DuBois started the rally with a leadoff walk and after a Bussenger single, McElroy brought both runners home with a double. Two batters later, McElroy scored on Craddock's bunt single to tie the game. Shelby DeCillis (Iselin, N.J./Colonia) delivered a two-out double that pushed Craddock across the plate with the go-ahead run.

The Titans retook the lead with a pair of runs during the home half of the third, but Brandywine answered by putting five markers on the board in the fourth. DuBois again got a rally going with a leadoff walk and later scored on Kaylee Mushinski's (Allentown, N.J./Allentown) groundball. Three runs crossed home via two Westminster errors before Culbertson recorded a RBI base hit to finish the frame.

Westminster strung together a rally in the fourth, scoring twice and threatening for more two runners on base and one out, but Olivia Bowers (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) came out of the bullpen to roll a double play ball, ending the Titan threat.

Bussenger worked a base on balls, stole two bases and scored on McElroy's single to complete the Brandywine scoring in the fifth.

Bowers tossed the final 3.2 frames, holding the Titans without a run or a hit, while striking out one, to earn her first collegiate victory.

Game Two: Penn State Brandywine 5, Heidelberg 0

Hurta recorded Brandywine's first shutout of the season and the fifth of her career, limiting the Student Princes to just a pair of singles in seven innings of work.

Hurta tallied one strikeout and allowed just three runners to reach base after the second inning.

Brandywine supported Hurta with all of the runs she would need during the first inning. Bussenger and McElroy began the game with back-to-back singles. Mushinski drove in Bussenger with a single, while Craddock plated McElroy with a sacrifice fly.

Naya Rivera (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest) recorded the first of three-straight singles in the fifth inning and later scored via error along with Bussenger. Craddock's second sacrifice fly of the game made the count 5-0.

Bussenger and McElroy were both 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored. McElroy swiped a pair of bases, while Bussenger stole one.

Brandywine (4-4) closes out play at The Spring Games on Wednesday when the Lions face Wheaton (10:00 AM) and Carlow (2:30 PM).