LYCOMING SOFTBALL SWEEPS WILKES IN EXTRA INNINGS

WILLIAMSPORT, PA – The Lycoming College softball team used extra innings to their advantage on Sunday afternoon to sweep a Freedom Conference doubleheader from Wilkes University. The Warriors scored once in the top of the eighth to win the opener, 4-3. They plated two runs in the top of the eighth in game two to notch an 8-6 win. Lycoming improves their overall record to 13-7-1 with the two victories. They are also 5-1 in the Freedom Conference. The Colonels fall to 7-12 overall and 3-9 in the conference.

In the opener, Christine Caroselli (Fr./Newtown, PA; Pennsbury) began the eighth inning with a single. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jackie Chestnut (Fr./Williamsport, PA; Williamsport). After Jessica Feerrar (Sr./Lock Haven, PA; Lock Haven) popped out for the second out of the inning, Jana Reitz (Fr./Waynesboro, PA; Waynesboro) singled to left field. Caroselli was rounding third on the play and made contact with a Wilkes infielder. The umpires ruled interference, allowing Caroselli to score.

The Colonelks jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Melissa Mendygral singled and moved to second on a groundout by Leora Kleist. Jan Nunemacher followed with a single to score Mendygral.

The Warriors would take advantage of three Wilkes errors to take a 3-1 lead in the fourth. With one out, Chestnut, Feerrar, and Reitz all reached on errors to load the bases. Amy Curry (So./Fallentimber, PA; Moshannon Valley) scored both Chestnut and Feerrar with a single to center field. After Reitz was forced out at third on a fielder’s choice, Jen Shaffer (Jr./Waterville, PA; Jersey Shore) singled to score Curry and give Lycoming a 3-1 lead.

The Colonels fought back to force extra innings by using the long ball. Carly Streznetcky launched a solo homer in the sixth to cut the deficit to 3-2. Then, with two outs in the seventh, Dominick drilled a solo homer to knot the game.

Amanda Gery (So./Whitehall, PA; Whitehall) was the winning pitcher for Lycoming. She gave up eight hits and struck out nine in going the distance. Maryellen Korty, who also tossed a complete game, was the tough-luck loser for Wilkes. She allowed only five hits and struck out six. Three of the four runs she allowed were unearned.

Curry was the lone two-time hitter in game one for Lycoming with a pair of singles. Dominick had three hits, while Melissa Babcock had a pair of singles to lead the Wilkes offensive attack.

In the nightcap, Morgan Mantle (Fr./Jersey Shore, PA; Jersey Shore) belted a two-run homer in the top of the eighth to lift Lycoming to the win. Morgan’s homer also scored Miranda Newcomer (Jr./Newfoundland, PA; Wallenpaupack), who began the inning with a single.

The Warriors scored five times in the third inning to take a 5-0 lead. Mantle singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Marianne Simpson (So./Camp Hill, PA; Camp Hill). Morgan Rudelitch (Fr./Lehighton, PA; Lehighton) followed with a single to put runners on first and third. Chestnut then cracked a three-run homer to stake Lycoming to a 3-0 lead. Feerrar and Reitz followed with singles to give the Warriors runners on first and second. Curry ripped a single to score Feerrar and Newcomer singled to score Reitz with the final two runs of the inning.

Wilkes would use the long ball in the fourth to score five times and knot the contest at 5-5. Carly Streznetcky led off with a double, and two outs later Nadine Taylor homered to cut the lead to 5-2. Kim Graver followed with a walk, and Brooke Shreaves reached on an error to set the stage for a three-run homer by Nunemacher that tied the game.

The Lady Colonels would take the lead in the fifth when Streznetcky belted a solo homer to put her team on top 6-5. The Warriors then tied the game in the top of the seventh with an unearned run. Feerrar reached on a one-out error to begin the rally. Reitz then singled to left field. The ball got past the Wilkes outfielder allowing Feerrar to race home with the tying run.

Mantle was the winning pitcher for Lycoming, scattering nine hits and striking out 13 batters in going the distance. Korty, who came on in relief of starter Jen Trate to begin the eighth inning, was tagged with the loss.

Mantle had three hits to lead Lycoming offensively. Rudelitch, Chestnut, Feerrar, Reitz, Curry and Newcomer each contributed two hits apiece.

Streznetcky, who homered and doubled, led the Lady Colonels with three hits. Nunemacher and Taylor each added two hits.