WARRIOR SOFTBALL DEFEATS DESALES TO ADVANCE TO FREEDOM CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The Lycoming College softball team will be playing for the Freedom Conference Championship and a berth in the NCAA playoffs tomorrow afternoon thanks to a 6-2 victory over DeSales University, Friday afternoon, in the semifinals. The Warriors, seeded fourth entering the tournament, pounded out 11 hits and scored six times to defeat the third-seeded Bulldogs. The victory lifts Lycoming’s season mark to 18-14, while DeSales drops to 19-13.

The Bulldogs struck first in the contest, manufacturing a run in the first inning on just two singles. The Warriors, however, struck back with two runs in the top of the second to take a lead they would never lose. Amy Curry (Jr./Fallentimber, Pa.; Moshannon Valley) doubled to lead-off the inning and scored on a double by Katy Kresge (Sr./Lehighton, Pa.; Marian Catholic). Lauren Wilson (So./Ontario, Calif.; Chino) reached first-base on a fielder’s choice as Kresge was thrown out at third by the shortstop. Wilson then moved to second on a sacrifice by Morgan Rudelitch (So./Lehighton, Pa.; Lehighton). Christine Caroselli (So./Newtown, Pa.; Pennsbury) capitalized on the sacrifice by doubling to bring home Wilson.

The hit parade continued in the third inning as Lycoming added two more runs. Jen Shaffer (Sr./Waterville, Pa.; Jersey Shore) led off with a double and moved to third on a single by Jana Reitz (Jr./Waynesboro, Pa.; Waynesboro). Reitz swiped second to put two runners in scoring position without an out. Melissa McCoy (Fr./Williamsport, Pa.; Jersey Shore) grounded out to the firstbaseman, but scored Shaffer and moved Reitz to third. Curry then singled for her second hit of the game and drove in Reitz for a 4-1 advantage.

DeSales got one back in the bottom of the fifth, stringing together four singles. But the Warriors put the game out of reach in the top half of the sixth with yet another pair of runs. Kresge led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice by Wilson. Rudelitch flied out to the centerfielder, but Caroselli picked her up with an RBI single to score Kresge. Caroselli moved to second on the throw home and scored a few pitches late when Marianne Simpson (Jr./Camp Hill, Pa.; Camp Hill) singled.

Amanda Gery (Jr./Whitehall, Pa.; Whitehall) took care of the rest finishing a complete game on the mound. Gery allowed just the two runs on seven hits. She tallied one strikeout. Caroselli led the offense with a 4-for-4 effort at the plate that included a pair of RBI and a run scored. Curry and Kresge each collected two hits in the game.

Lycoming will now await the survivor of the consolation bracket for the championship game scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon at King’s College. King’s and Wilkes will play at 9 a.m. with the loser being eliminated and the winner advancing to face DeSales. The second game is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. again with the loser being eliminated and the winner surviving to face the Warriors. Should Lycoming be defeated in the 1 o’clock game, their opponent would have to duplicate the feat in another game to steal the conference title. A victory by the Warriors on Saturday would give them the Freedom Championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA National Tournament.  

COLLEGIATE SOFTBALL
Game 1

WP – Amanda Gery LP – Elise Wilk