Lady Warriors Drop Two at Susquehanna
Playoff Picture Unchanged, Still Sitting in Third
Game 1 Box Score / Game 2 Box Score

SELINSGROVE, Pa. --- Lycoming softball ran into some late-inning tough luck at Susquehanna University on Wednesday afternoon, dropping both games by due to a pair of comebacks from the Crusaders.  The Lady Warriors were victimized by three runs in the seventh inning of the first game in falling 5-4, and then saw Susquehanna tie the score in the final inning and run one across the plate in the eighth to come back for a 6-5 win in game two.

Lycoming, now 11-10 overall but still 8-4 in the Freedom Conference, currently sits comfortably in third in the league standings.  Fourth place Drew University (4-4 in conference) has three conference series remaining on its schedule, making the Rangers the only squad with a chance to overtake Lady Warriors.

In game one against Susquehanna, the Crusaders jumped out to an early 1-0 lead thanks to a first inning double by Kerri Brugger.  Lycoming responded in the fourth inning with three scores, two of which were unearned.  Senior Kristen Reese (State College, Pa./State College) dropped in an RBI single for the first run.  Sophomore Dana Marek (Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) reached on error by the third baseman to drive in the next tally, and senior Christine Caroselli (Newtown, Pa./Pennsbury) finished the frame’s scoring with a perfect squeeze-bunt to bring Reese in from the third.

Susquehanna added one more in the bottom of the fourth, but Lycoming recovered that run in the top of the sixth.  Junior Betsy Reese (State College, Pa./State College) drove in pinch runner Marissa Hastings (Old Forge, Pa./Old Forge) with a grounder to first to give Lycoming a 4-2 lead going into the seventh.

A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases with nobody out for the Crusaders in the bottom of the final frame, but senior hurler Morgan Mantle (Jersey Shore, Pa./Jersey Shore) rebounded to strike out Brugger for the first out.  Jess Nastelli singled in one run to make the score 4-3, but Mantle induced a pop-up to bring Lycoming one out from victory.  A two-run error on a knock to center by Gretchen Halsey followed, allowing the tying and winning runs to score.

The Crusaders opened the second game’s scoring with a pair in the bottom of the first.  Lycoming responded with two runs in the top of the third thanks to a big two-out triple from Betsy Reese to score Mantle and sophomore Holly Billow (Millersburg, Pa./Millersburg).

The Lady Warriors brought across two more in the fifth.  With one down, junior Melissa McCoy (Williamsport, Pa./Jersey Shore) got things rolling with a single.  Mantle reached on an error to short followed by a Billow walk to load the bases.  Betsy Reese came through with her second two-run hit of the day, this one a single to bring in McCoy and Mantle for a 4-2 advantage.

Susquehanna added one run in the bottom of the fifth, but Lycoming responded with some more two-out magic in the top of the seventh.  After Mantle drew a free pass, Billow ripped her second hit of the day and first triple of the season to bring around Mantle to push the Lady Warriors’ lead to 5-3.

Mantle started the bottom of the seventh in search of her second save of the season in relief of Kristen Reese.  Reese went the first six innings, allowing three unearned runs on seven hits while fanning six.  A walk and a ground out brought Sarah Shaffer to the dish for Susquehanna.  She promptly ripped the game’s third triple to pull the Crusaders within one at 5-4.  Brugger followed with an RBI grounder to third to plate the tying run.

Lycoming seemed poised to score first in extra innings with tie-breaker runner Betsy Reese moving to third on a wild pitch and senior Lauren Wilson (Ontario, Calif./Chino) walking and stealing second.  Crusader pitcher Kelly McHale regrouped and induced two pop-ups and a grounder to get out of the jam.

Susquehanna jumped on its opportunity in the bottom of the eighth, bringing around its extra runner with a pair of singles.

Lycoming looks to finish the regular season on a high note on Saturday, April 22, as the Lady Warriors welcome DeSales University to Williamsport.  A sweep of both games would guarantee a third seed in the upcoming conference tourney.  First pitch of game one is set for 1:00 p.m.