Late Rally, Grand Slams Power Brandywine In Sweep

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Penn State Brandywine scored twice in its final at-bat to defeat Penn College 5-4 before rolling to a 21-8 game two romp that included two grand slams during the second inning as the Lions posted a United East Conference softball sweep in a rematch of last season's title tilt Sunday afternoon.

Game One: Penn State Brandywine 5, Penn College 4

Brandywine trailed 4-3 entering the seventh inning, but struck for two runs to claim a victory in the day's opening game.

The Lions led the game 1-0 as Lexi Bussenger (Bangor, Pa./Bangor) singled, stole a base and scored via throwing error in the first inning.

Penn College tied the score in the second inning before scoring three more times in the fifth to vault in front.

Shelby DeCillis (Iselin, N.J./Colonia) tripled and scored on Jordan DuBois' (Southampton, N.J./Seneca) base hit to bring the Lions within one in the sixth inning. One frame later, Bussenger led off with a walk and Emma McElroy (Mountainside, N.J./Governor Livingston) followed with a single. Both runners swiped a base to move into scoring position for Ava Craddock (Springfield, Pa./Springfield), who delivered a base hit to score Bussenger with the tying run. Ava Rodgers (Gloucester City, N.J./Gloucester City) followed with a groundball to shortstop that allowed McElroy to cross home with the go-ahead run.

April Lewandowski (Atco, N.J./Hammonton) set the Wildcats down in order in the seventh to complete the victory, her third of the week and eighth overall this spring. She struck out six and allowed four runs on eight hits.

Eight of Brandywine's nine starters recorded a hit, including a two-hit effort from Madie Culbertson (Havertown, Pa./Haverford). Bussenger and McElroy both stole two bases.

Game Two: Penn State Brandywine 21, Penn College 8

Brandywine built a 20-0 lead in the third inning and cruised to the lopsided victory in game two.

Eleven Brandywine hitters combined to produce 24 hits as the Lions recorded their highest scoring output since beating Penn State Greater Allegheny 43-0 in 2024.

Rodgers and Kaylee Mushinski (Allentown, N.J./Allentown) led the hit parade with four knocks each. Mushinski, who fell a triple shy of the cycle, scored four times and drove in six runs, including the first of Brandywine's two grand slams during an eight-run second inning.

DuBois also hit a slam and joined Bussenger and Naya Rivera (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest) with three hits. Rivera and Bussenger scored three runs, while Culbertson, Rodgers and DeCillis each posted two RBI.

Mushinski's run-scoring double and DeCillis' sacrifice fly gave Brandywine a 2-0 lead after one inning.

Three-straight singles to begin the second inning loaded the bases for Mushinski, who launched her second home run of the season to center field. A single, a walk and an error reloaded the bases for DuBois, who also homered for the second time this spring, sending the ball over the left-center field fence.

Brandywine's lead doubled to 20-0 thanks to 10 runs on 10 hits during the third inning. Craddock tripled in a run, while Rodgers recorded two run-scoring base hits during the inning. Cecilia LaGreca's (Turnersville, N.J./Washington Township) RBI single scored Rivera with the Lions' final marker one frame later.

Olivia Bowers (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) went the distance in the circle to improve to 4-0.

Brandywine (17-7, 8-0 UEC) plays three consecutive days beginning with a Wednesday road doubleheader at Cedar Crest (3:00 PM).