SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Kerri Apicella threw a terrific game on Friday, striking out six and allowing only one run on three hits for CUA. Unfortunately, that one run proved to be the difference in a 1-0 setback to Susquehanna in the opening round of the 2012 Landmark Conference Tournament. The Crusaders' Alyssa Cantalini hit a fourth inning home run for the lone run of the afternoon.
CUA had plenty of chances on Friday, totaling six hits and stranding 12 runners on base.
The Cardinals loaded the bases in the top of the first, but Rose Shaver bounced into a fielder's choice with two outs to end the inning.
With two outs in the third, Mel Galella and Nina Curto stroked singles to put runners on first and second, but Shaver grounded back to the pitcher for the third out.
In the next inning, CUA again had its chances, beginning with a leadoff single by Erin McMakin. Melissa Rebechi replaced McMakin as a pinch runner and then moved down to second on Amy Laughner's one-out single.
Taylor Stockinger was next, but her fielder's choice took Rebechi off the basepaths, and Tracey Scanlon then grounded out to short stop for the third out.
In the bottom of the frame after Apicella struck out the first two batters, Cantalini stepped in and ripped a homer to left center for what proved to be the game-winning run.
The Cardinals still had opportunities to tie the game, putting runners on first and third with one out in the fifth. Shaver was next and reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases.
That brought up McMakin, whose fielder's choice retired Galella at the plate for the second out. Daubman then grounded out to short to end the inning.
CUA was only able to muster one more hit the rest of the way, sending the Cardinals to an opening round loss.
Apicella did all she could to give CUA a chance, going 6.0 innings, striking out six and allowing only three hits. Morgan Lewis got the win for the Crusaders, after she struck out four in 7.0 innings and allowed six hits.
Laughner led the Cardinals offense with two hits, while no Crusader totaled more than one.
CUA will now play Scranton on Saturday morning beginning at 9 a.m. in Selinsgrove. The loser of that game will be eliminated from the tournament.
