Brandywine Splits Third Set Of Florida Contests

CLERMONT, Fla. – Penn State Brandywine erased a two-run deficit to defeat Lake Forest 11-3 in Tuesday's opening game, but suffered its first loss of the season in a 12-2 defeat to Alfred during the nightcap.

Game One: Penn State Brandywine 11, Lake Forest 3 (6 innings)

Brandywine's offense stayed red hot as the Lions bashed 11 runs on 11 hits and dealt Lake Forest its first defeat of the season.

Lexi Bussenger (Bangor, Pa./Bangor), Emma McElroy (Mountainside, N.J./Governor Livingston), Shelby DeCillis (Iselin, N.J./Colonia) and Naya Rivera (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest) all produced two-hit games for the Lions. Rivera recorded four runs batted in, while Bussenger had three RBI and McElroy knocked in a pair. DeCillis, Ava Craddock (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) and Madie Culbertson (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) all crossed home twice.

Brandywine answered the Forresters' two-run first inning with a five spot in the second. The Lions' first three batters of the frame reached base without the benefit of a hit before Rivera laced a two-run double in the right-center field gap to tie the score. Two batters later, Bussenger's base hit plated Culbertson and McElroy followed with a two-RBI single.

Kaylee Mushinski (Allentown, N.J./Allentown) extended the margin to 7-2 by lifting her first home run of the season, a two-run shot in the fourth.

The Forresters got a run back during the fifth frame, but Bussenger answered with a two-run single during the bottom of the inning and Rivera sent a two-run single down the left field line one inning later to end the game via run rule.

April Lewandowski (Atco, N.J./Hammonton) earned her third win in as many appearances, tossing all six innings in the circle. She tallied four strikeouts, while allowing three runs on six hits.

Game Two: Alfred 12, Penn State Brandywine 2 (5 innings)

Alfred University sent Brandywine to its first defeat in six games this spring, topping the Lions 12-2 in five innings.

McElroy and Craddock combined for half of Brandywine's eight hits as both notched two-hit efforts.

Bussenger singled, stole second and scored via error to account for the Lions' first run of the day in the top of the first inning. Culbertson knocked in McElroy with a double in the fourth after McElroy singled and swiped second to start the frame.

Alfred scored in every inning, including a seven-run third that busted the game open for the Saxons.

Brandywine (5-1) will close out its Spring Break trip Wednesday against Albertus Magnus (2:00 PM) and Carroll (4:15 PM).