MEDIA, Pa. — Penn State Brandywine scored a combined seven runs during the fifth and sixth innings to overcome a five-run deficit and defeat Penn College 8-7 as the second-seeded Lions captured their first-ever United East Conference softball championship Sunday afternoon.
After being limited to one run on two hits through four innings, Brandywine's offense broke through in the fifth and sixth innings to lead the Lions to their 10th-straight conference championship and first as a member of the United East Conference and NCAA Division III.
Gigi Duca got a four-run rally started in the fifth inning with a leadoff single. Lexi Bussenger and Emma McElroy followed with base hits to load the bases. Tournament Most Valuable Player Ava Craddock unloaded the bases by stroking a three-run double into the left-center field gap to bring the Lions within 6-4. Two batters later, Madie Culbertson scored Craddock with a single as Brandywine climbed within one run.
After April Lewandowski set Penn College down in order in the sixth, Duca again got a rally going during the bottom of the frame with a walk. Bussenger followed with a single and both runners came around to score when McElroy tripled off the wall, giving the Lions a one-run lead. Kaylee Mushinski added a bloop single to plate McElroy with an insurance run.
The Wildcats mounted a rally with three-straight seventh inning singles to pull within 8-7. Mackenzie Tice beat out an infield single to third base, the final of the three consecutive base hits, but Mushinski fired home and Shelby DeCillis applied the tag on a Penn College runner attempting to score, ending the game and setting off another Brandywine championship celebration.
Bussenger topped the offense with a 3-for-4 day at the plate. She scored three times and stole a base, while McElroy posted two hits, two RBI, two runs and a steal. Craddock knocked in four runs and Duca crossed home twice.
Lewandowski overcame an uncharacteristic four errors from her defense to up her record to 18-3 this spring. The victory was the 45th of Lewandowski's career, a new Brandywine softball program record. She tallied three strikeouts, while allowing two earned runs and 11 hits.
Brandywine finished its first season as a member of NCAA Division III with a record of 35-8. The Lions have won at least 35 games in four-straight seasons under the guidance of 12th-year Head Coach Mark Caserta.
