Three-Run Shot Sinks Lycoming on Tourney Day One
Battle FDU-Florham on Saturday Morning
Box Score

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. --- Game two of the Middle Atlantic Conference softball tournament was shaping into a classic pitchers’ duel with Lycoming senior Morgan Mantle (Jersey Shore, Pa./Jersey Shore) and Wilkes’ righty Samantha Evanich firing on all cylinders from the outset.  That all changed in the bottom of the fifth when Evanich helped her own cause with a three-run homer to left to bring around the game’s only runs for a 3-0 Colonels’ victory.

The win catapults Wilkes into the winners’ bracket and a date with first-seeded King’s College at 3:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon.  Lycoming gets a night to adjust from its first round loss before squaring off with FDU-Florham on Saturday, May 6, at 9:00 a.m.  The Devils lost to King’s in the tournament’s opening game 6-3.

Neither Lycoming no Wilkes could get anything rolling through the first four innings of play.  A third frame single through the right side for Wilkes’ Shelly Pheiff and a liner to left by Lycoming’s Melissa McCoy (Williamsport, Pa./Jersey Shore) accounted for the only knocks of the game until the fifth inning.

The Lady Warriors made some noise in the top of the fifth when sophomore Amy Hulbert (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) singled back up the box with freshman Marissa Hastings (Old Forge, Pa./Old Forge) following with a blooper down the right field line to give Lycoming runners at first and second with one out.  Evanich kept her cool on the rubber, getting senior Kristen Reese (State College, Pa./State College) to fly out to right before striking out sophomore Dana Marek (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield).

The Lady Colonels made good on their threat in the bottom half of the frame.  Pheiff led of the inning with a double over the right fielder’s head for her second hit of the contest.  A sacrifice bunt attempt turned into a single and an extra base for Allison Grohol when she moved up on the throw over to third to try to catch Pheiff rounding the base too hard.  Mantle seemed on the verge of getting out the jam unscathed after inducing a foul pop to third by Kathy Daulton and failed squeeze attempt by Sarah Elliott.  Evanich had different plans as she turned on a three-two fastball and deposited over the left-field fence for her 11^th round-tripper of the season.

Both hurlers threw outstanding games no matter the outcome.  Evanich allowed only four hits through seven innings of work while striking out seven.  Mantle surrendered the three runs on five hits while walking a pair in six innings.  She struck out 11 Colonel batters including six of the first seven hitters of the contest.