LYCOMING SOFTBALL UPSETS KING’S IN FIRST ROUND OF CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – The Lycoming College softball team upset King’s College in the opening game of the Freedom Conference playoffs, Friday afternoon. The fourth-seeded Warriors outlasted the number-one seed Monarchs to record a 2-1 victory in 10 innings. Lycoming, 17-14 overall this season, advances to the semifinals of the double-elimination tournament to face DeSales University, who defeated Wilkes University 8-4 in the other quarterfinal game. King’s falls to 33-8 this season and will face Wilkes in an elimination game Saturday morning.

Sophomore Morgan Mantle (Jersey Shore, Pa.; Jersey Shore) led the Warriors both from the mound and at the plate. The 2003 Freedom Conference pitcher of the year allowed just one hit and one run in 10 innings of work, while striking out 14 of the 33 batters she faced. Mantle also single-handedly accounted for Lycoming’s first run with a lead-off homerun in the third inning.

That run knotted the game at 1-1 and came just an half inning after Stacey Preambo scored the Monarchs’ lone run of the game with a homerun to lead-off the bottom of the second.

After playing two scoreless extra innings, the Warriors plated the go-ahead run in the top of the tenth inning. Christine Caroselli (So./Newtown, Pa.; Pennsbury) started at second base per international tie-breaking rules. She was moved to third on a sacrifice by Marianne Simpson (Jr./Camp Hill, Pa.; Camp Hill). A pop-up to the shortstop left Caroselli at third with two outs. Jana Reitz (Jr./Waynesboro, Pa.; Waynesboro), however, came through with a clutch hit, smacking a double that scored Caroselli and gave Lycoming a 2-1 lead.

King’s went quietly in the bottom of the frame as the Warriors hung on for the hard-fought victory.

Amy Curry (Jr./Fallentimber, Pa.; Moshannon Valley) went 2-for-3 for Lycoming and Katie Kresge (Sr./Lehighton, Pa.; Marian Catholic) also recorded a hit.

COLLEGIATE SOFTBALL
Game 1

WP – Morgan Mantle LP – Nikki Kotula