Catholic Knocks Off Susquehanna in Game 2 of Landmark Conference Tournament

BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The third seed Catholic University of America posted an 8-2 win over second seed Susquehanna University in the second game of the 2017 Landmark Conference Tournament Saturday being hosted by Moravian College at Blue & Grey Field.

The Cardinals, now 27-12 on the season, advances to the winner’s bracket game against the host Greyhounds immediately while the River Hawks fall to 25-14 on the year and will play fourth seed Juniata College in an elimination game slated for 4:00 p.m. Saturday.

Catholic had 12 hits in the game with senior shortstop Rebekah Hoisl going 2-for-2 with a pair of runs. Junior designated player Megan Colline was 2-for-3 while junior catcher Alyssa Keane, senior second baseman Julie Keleti and senior third baseman Erin Adams were each 2-for-4 with Keane hitting a three-run homer and Adams driving in two runs. Junior center fielder Rachel Valdes added two RBIs for the Cardinals.

The River Hawks had eight hits with junior third baseman Emilie Boman going 3-for-4.

Cardinals’ sophomore Kelly Lynch earned the win in the circle to improve to 14-6, and she allowed two runs on eight hits and four walks to go with a pair of strikeouts.

Susquehanna senior Jamie Fesinstine falls to 10-7 with the loss after she allowed eight runs, seven earned, on 12 hits and two walks to go with two strikeouts.

The River Hawks took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when junior shortstop Brooke Kohler scored from second base on an infield single by Boman.

Catholic answered with a run in the top of the third inning to knot the score at 1-1. The Cardinals run would come as Hoisl scored on an RBI single off of Keleti’s bat.

The Cardinals took a 4-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning with three runs. Catholic scored its first two runs of the inning on two-run double by Adams that scored Hoisl, who had started the inning with a walk, and sophomore right fielder Rebecca Marks, who singled. Valdes chased Adams across the plate with an RBI single to center field.

The River Hawks would get a run back in the bottom of the fifth inning on an RBI single by senior right fielder Lauren Creamer that scored Boman, who had singled with two outs.

Catholic scored four times in the top of the sixth frame to extend its lead to 8-2. Valdes connected on an RBI sacrifice fly to score Keleti, who had led off the inning with a single. Keane followed with a three-run homer to left center field.