Lady Warriors Win Marathon to Split with Wilkes
Mantle, Offensive Execution Key 11-Inning Triumph
Game 1 Box Score / Game 2 Box Score

WILLIAMSPORT , Pa. --- In a battle of two of the top three teams in the Freedom Conference standings, Lycoming softball earned a split against Wilkes University to help the Lady Warriors in their quest to clinch a playoff spot.  Lycoming’s win came in the first game in which the blue and gold crossed the finish line first with a 2-1 triumph in an 11-inning marathon.  Wilkes came back strong in the second affair, defeating Lycoming 7-0.  The Lady Warriors now stand at 11-8 overall, 8-4 in league play.  Wilkes boasts 13-11, 8-2 marks.

Senior Morgan Mantle ( Jersey Shore , Pa. / Jersey Shore ) tossed all 11 frames in the opening affair to earn her eighth win of the season.  She allowed one run on eight hits while walking a pair and fanning 11.  She out dueled Wilkes’ standout Laurie Agresti, who struck out 17 batters.  But in just about any sport, there's no substitution for perfect execution in key situations.

Junior Melissa McCoy ( Williamsport , Pa. / Jersey Shore ), who provided most of the Lady Warriors’ offense with two of the team’s four hits while driving in both runs, twice followed sacrifice bunts to bring home a run.  She brought around the winning tally with one down in the 11^th.  With sophomore Dana Marek ( Bloomfield , N.J./Bloomfield) starting on second via the tie breaking rule, senior Christine Caroselli ( Newtown , Pa. /Pennsbury) moved her over to third with a sacrifice bunt.  McCoy followed with her second single of the afternoon to secure Lycoming’s victory.

The trio combined for the same sequence in the third inning to plate the game’s first run with the only difference being Marek’s single with one out to set up Caroselli’s sacrifice.

Game two didn’t go quite as planned for Lycoming as Wilkes roughed up senior starter Kristen Reese ( State College , Pa. / State College ).  The Colonels used seven hits and five walks to put up seven runs (six earned) against the blue and gold hurler.  Reese did strike out four batters.

Wilkes jumped on top early with a two-run shot by Samantha Evanich in the first inning.  The Colonels added one more in the second, three in the third, and their final run in the fourth inning.  Reese settled down and didn’t allow a hit through the final three frames.

Lycoming looks to continue its winning ways in a non-conference match up with Susquehanna University on Wednesday, April 19.  First pitch of game one is set for 3:00 p.m. at Susquehanna.