Susquehanna Rallies Past Scranton in Elimination Game at Landmark Conference Tournament

BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- Third seed Susquehanna University rallied from a 3-0 deficit to earn a 4-3 win over fourth seed The University of Scranton in the first elimination game of the 2016 Landmark Conference Tournament being hosted at Blue & Grey Field by Moravian College Saturday.

The Crusaders, now 24-14 on the season, advance to the second elimination game of the tournament on Sunday, May 8 when Susquehanna will take on second seed The Catholic University of America at 10:00 a.m. at Blue & Grey Field. The winner of that game will face the host Greyhounds in the championship round at 12:00 p.m. Moravian needs just one win to claim the conference title and an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament with either Susquehanna or Catholic would need to win twice. Scranton finishes its season at 20-16.

Susquehanna had nine hits in the game with senior outfielder Amanda Neveroski going 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Freshman first baseman Jackie Gore was 2-for-3 in the contest with a home run. Scranton was limited to three hits in the game.

Crusader junior pitcher Jamie Fesinstine earned the victory in relief as she allowed just a walk while striking out three batters in 4.1 innings of action. Freshman Alexa Gonzalez had started in the circle for Susquehanna and gave up three unearned runs on three hits and a walk to go with two strikeouts in 2.2 innings.

Sophomore Morgan Rentzheimer tossed a complete game for Scranton with four runs, three earned, on nine hits and two walks to go with two strikeouts.

The Royals opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the third inning. The first run came in on a throwing error by Susquehanna, and junior first baseman Kaitlin O’Sullivan hit a two-RBI double to plate the other two runs.

Susquehanna would get a run back in the bottom of the third frame on an RBI double by sophomore shortstop Heather Pearson. The Crusaders would score again in the bottom of the fourth when Gore connected on a solo home run, her seventh homer of the season. Susquehanna scored twice in the bottom of the sixth for the win when Neveroski connected on a two-RBI single with one out.