PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia University softball bounced back from a 16-1 game one loss to Holy Family to earn a 6-5 game two victory over the Tigers to split its Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) doubleheader Thursday afternoon.

Philadelphia is now 20-9 overall and 10-7 against the CACC, while Holy Family goes to 24-12 overall, 15-7 in the conference.

GAME ONE
After a scoreless opening two innings, the Holy Family offense exploded for seven runs in the third, three more in the fourth, and six runs in the fifth.

Samantha Borrelli was 2-for-4, including a three-run home run in the third to put Holy Family on the board. Amanda Paredes had RBI singles in the third and fourth inning as part of a 3-for-4 game. Kelsi Bunda recorded RBI hits in the third and fourth, and a bases-loaded walk in the sixth. Danielle McDevitt was 2-for-4 with a RBI triple to left-center field in the third.

Sophomore catcher Mollie Burrell (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton Area) drove in Philadelphia's lone run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning.

Senior center fielder Samantha Riabko (Haddon Twp., N.J./Haddon Twp.) had two of Philadelphia's five hits.

Bailey Walters picked up the win (9-3) as she struck out three in five innings. Walters pitched out of a bases-loaded no-out jam in the third inning by inducing a line out to short and a 1-2-3 double play.

Junior pitcher Nicole Troisi (Norristown, Pa./Pope John Paul II) took the loss (5-5).

GAME TWO
Sophomore right fielder Renee Karakera (Schaumburg, Ill./Schaumburg) delivered the big hit of the game with a two-out double to plate freshman left fielder Shannon Weaver (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson) in the bottom of the sixth to put Philadelphia in front 6-5.

Sophomore pitcher Kasia Smith (Waddell, Ariz./Estrella Foothills) threw a perfect seventh, including two strikeouts, to lock down the victory.

Smith was the winning pitcher (6-3) and she fanned seven in the seven innings and allowed nine hits.

Holy Family took a 3-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning. Pitcher Amanda Paredes started the frame out with a solo home run to left center. With two outs in the inning McDevitt knocked in two runs with a single to center field.

Philadelphia stormed out in front in the fifth with a five-run inning, four runs coming on two Holy Family errors.

Senior second baseman Meaghan Lewis (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenago Valley) kicked it off with a double and immediately was able to score on a Weaver double.

Freshman shortstop Monica Levins (Norristown, Pa./Norristown Area) walked and Karakera recorded a bunt single to load the bases.

Riabko came up and hit a ground ball to second base. McDevitt backhanded the ball and threw home to attempt to force out Weaver. Weaver ran over catcher Kristy Tomlinson, who had yet to catch the throw, to score the second run of the inning While the Tigers scrambled to find the ball, Levins was able to come home from second.

Junior catcher Stephanie Martin (Hanover, Md./Seton Keough) followed that up with a ground out to third base. However, Erin Corrado attempted to throw back across the diamond in an attempt to pick off Karakera. Corrado's throw sailed over Kristine Casey's head and went out of play to allow Karakera and Riabko to score and put Philadelphia ahead 5-3.

Kelsi Bunda hit a two-out home run to dead center field in the sixth to tie the game at five.

Lewis and Karakeka both went 2-for-3 in the win. Lewis now has 163 career hits, two away from passing Jen Richard for first in Philadelphia University history.

McDevitt was 2-for-3 for the Tigers.

Victoria Reuscher allowed four runs, one earned, on three hits in two innings and took the loss (2-2).

Philadelphia heads to Post for a CACC doubleheader on Saturday, April 19 at 1 p.m.