Lady Warriors Split with DeSales
Secure Playoff Spot on Senior Day
Game 1 Box Score / Game 2 Box Score

WILLIAMSPORT , Pa. --- On a day in which the clouds threatened to open up and wash away the final regular season series for five Lycoming seniors, the sun pierced the fog just in time to see the Lady Warrior softball team close out a 1-0 game one victory over DeSales University to clinch a spot in the Freedom Conference playoffs.  Lycoming dropped the second game 6-1, but the opening victory assured the blue and gold another day on the diamond and a shot at the league title.  Lycoming’s record now stands at 12-11 overall, 9-5 in Freedom Conference play.  The Bulldogs move to 10-19, 3-9.

Senior Morgan Mantle ( Jersey Shore , Pa. / Jersey Shore ) went the distance for the 11^th time this season to earn her ninth victory and fourth shutout of the year.  Three was her magic number as she surrendered just as many hits while fanning a trio and facing only three batters over the minimum.

Mantle brought the game’s lone run across the plate in the third inning.  With one down, senior Christine Caroselli ( Newtown , Pa. /Pennsbury) sent a rocket to the left side that squeezed out of the outstretched glove of the DeSales’ shortstop for an infield single.  Junior Melissa McCoy ( Williamsport , Pa. /Jersey Shore) followed with her second loud double of the contest, but she hit it so hard that it caromed off the outfield fence right to the centerfielder to help her keep Caroselli at third.  Mantle kept Caroselli’s stay 90 feet from home a short layover with an atmospheric sacrifice fly to center.

Lycoming’s bats stayed relatively quiet in the latter affair, and the squad’s leather surrendered three costly errors that led to a trio of unearned runs.  The fourth inning proved the Lady Warriors’ undoing as DeSales brought around four runs with only two hits.  Amanda Kensecki brought in the first run with a double to center, but a wild pitch and two blue and gold miscues extended the inning and allowed three more runners to cross the dish.

Sophomore Holly Billow ( Millersburg , Pa. /Millersburg) got one back in the bottom of the fourth.  With two out, Lycoming’s first baseman turned on a fastball and belted a towering shot over the left field fence for her second round-tripper of the season.

DeSales returned the favor with one more unearned tally in the top of fifth, the Bulldogs’ earned their final tally in the top of the seventh when Kelly Moran cleared the fence in left.

Lycoming has concluded its regular season schedule and will practice for the next two weeks in anticipation of their first round opponent.  King’s College and Wilkes University will occupy the top two seeds as both have games remaining in the upcoming week.  The Freedom Conference tournament is a two-day affair beginning on May 5 and concluding on May 6.  The championship is hosted by Wilkes University .  A link to all tournament information will be posted to the Lycoming softball homepage as soon as it becomes available.