SELINSGROVE, Pa. (March 19, 2016) – The Drew University softball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader at Susquehanna University on Saturday afternoon to open Landmark Conference play.
 
It took the Crusaders (8-4) until the very last inning of Game 1 to figure out Rangers' freshman pitcher Bethany Budner, who had a 3-1 lead heading into the seventh. Susquehanna placed the first two hitters on base, and then proceeded to walk off with a three-run home run and a 4-3 victory. Susquehanna carried the momentum into Game 2 with an 11-2 win in five innings against the Rangers (6-6).
 
Junior right fielder Phylicia Pellot led Drew with a 3-for-7 showing at the plate, while freshman center fielder Katie Grodski was 2-for-5 with an RBI in the doubleheader.
 
The Rangers hit the road again on Tuesday, March 22 for a non-conference doubleheader at Rutgers-Newark beginning at 4:00 p.m.
 
Walk-Off Three-Run Home Run Spoils Landmark Debut
 
Junior first baseman Emma Agostini's RBI double and freshman third baseman Sammie Booth's two-run single staked the Rangers with a 3-0 lead in the first inning of the Landmark Conference opener. Budner (5-2) worked into the seventh inning with a 3-1 lead after allowing just three hits and a walk over six solid innings.
 
Home-field advantage paid off for the Crusaders in the bottom of the seventh, when a single and a double set the stage for Jackie Gore with no outs. Gore planted one over the fence to end the game on one swing.
 
Susquehanna's other run also came via the long ball with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the fifth to cut Drew's lead to 3-1.
 
The Rangers worked the bases loaded in the top of the fifth with a chance to extend the lead on an error and a couple of walks, but stranded the bases loaded.
 
Crusaders Complete Sweep With 11-2 Win
 
Susquehanna took the second game of the twin bill in five innings off another de-facto three-run walk-off home run by Gore in the bottom of the fifth. Gore's second three-run homer of the day gave the Crusaders an 11-2 lead, invoking the eight-run rule.
 
Grodski and sophomore left fielder Brooke Adams recorded RBIs in the fourth, and sophomore catcher Heather Ronchi, Pellot, Agostini and Booth all notched hits for the second straight game against Susquehanna.
 
A three-run triple handed Susquehanna all the offense it would need in the second, but they piled on in the third inning with five runs for the 8-0 lead.