Penn State Brandywine Claims Back-to-Back National Championships

DUBOIS, Pa. – Penn State Brandywine fought to be named back-to-back National Champions as first-time participants, Salem University forced them into the “if” game in the 2024 USCAA Softball National Championship on Thursday. 

The Nittany Lions entered the championship fresh off a PSUAC Championship and got right to work on Monday.  After Southern Maine Community College forced them into extras to start the week, they narrowly squeezed by conference opponent, Penn State New Kensington and then cruised past Penn State Mont Alto to secure a chance at repeating as National Champions. 

In game one, the Lions found themselves down 4-0, but back-to-back RBI singles from Megan Ferry and Karly Rees got Brandywine on the board in the second. Following a 2-run homerun from Salem, the Lions would not be counted out and responded with a 5-run fifth inning capped off by a 2-run homerun by tournament MVP, Crystal Cassario, to take a 7-6 lead. 

However, the Tigers would not go down easy and came back to win game one by a final score of 8-7 after scoring a run in each of the final innings to force the if necessary game. 

Salem was led by Kayla Williams who had two homeruns in the game and tallied 5 RBI’s.  The win went to Kendall Lemley who came in in relief tossing 3 strike outs in two and two thirds’ innings. 

To start game two, the Brandywine bats came alive as Jess James and Crystal Cassario both doubled to put the Lions up 4-0 in the top of the first.  After an insurance run from Brandywine in the second, Salem looked like they might make game two as exciting as game one, notching three runs off the bats of Sierra Chapa, Meladie Larance, and Brooke Wise.  But the combination of pitching of Brandywine’s April Lewandowski and a stingy Brandywine defense was good enough to limit the Tiger baserunners. 

Penn State Brandywine would go on to win by a final score of 5-3 and claim back-to-back National Titles.  Karly Rees led the charge for the Lions in the game, going 4-for-4 with an RBI.  She was supported by Player of the Year, Kaylee Mushinski who went 2 for 4.  Brandywine ends the year 38-9. 

Tournament MVP

Crystal Cassario - Penn State Brandywine

All-Tournament Team

Olivia Waldrop – Penn State New Kensington

Clara Niglio – Carlow University

McKenzie Campbell – Lyon College

Brooke Wise – Salem University

Meladie Larance – Salem University

Kayla Williams – Salem University

Jess James – Penn State Brandywine

Karly Rees – Penn State Brandywine

Kaylee Mushinski – Penn State Brandywine