Softball: Big Bats Lead Brandywine to PSUAC Crown

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA-  With their undefeated conference record and PSUAC Championship at stake, the Brandywine offense struck big in the first three innings as their early burst was enough to outlast Hazleton 11-8 in yesterday's title game at Beard Field, home of Penn State University softball. 

Hazleton opened the scoring in a big way in the top of the first, when back-to-back doubles from Erin Dougherty and Brianna Grunza gave the visitors a 2-0 lead.  Kayla Rhome followed with an RBI single of her own, before coming around to score on Brandi Grunza's two-RBI single. 

Down 5-0 before ever stepping to the plate, Brandywine wasted no time in answering with four runs of their own.  With two outs, an unearned run scored following an error by the Hazleton second baseman, with two more runs scoring on a two-RBI double from Danielle Spina.  Cheyenne Murphy followed with an RBI single of her own, cutting the deficit to just 5-4.

Brandywine pitcher Danielle Spina held Hazleton scoreless over the next two innings, while the top-seed's offense added seven runs to their total, capped off by a pair of two-RBI doubles in a five-run second inning by Katy Steffen and Cheyenne Murphy. 

Trailing 11-5 entering the fourth, Hazleton cut the lead to just 11-8 with a run each in the next three consecutive innings.  In the top of the seventh, with a runner on second and two outs, Brandywine pitcher Danielle Spina induced a groundout to shortstop, clinching the PSUAC crown for the home team. 

The Brandywine offense was led by Julia Allman and Robyn Gannon's three hits apiece, while Katy Steffen went 2-4 with a game-high four RBI's.  Cheyenne Murphy also drove in three runs, with Danielle Spina earning the win on the mound. 

Andrea Quillman and Brianna Grunza collected three hits each, while combining to drive in five runs for Hazleton.  Brandi Grunza added two hits and two RBI's, while Erin Dougherty, Kayla Rhome and Britani Esser each drove in one run. 

The victory in yesterday's championship game marks the first time in program history that Brandywine earned a title in softball.