READING, Pa. – Sophomore Holly Lansberry (Curwensville, Pa./Curwensville  Area) threw a six-hitter in the  Commonwealth Conference opener to improve to 5-0 with an 11-1 win and classmate Amy Cline (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg Area) posted five hits in the second game to help lead the Warriors to a 9-7 win and a sweep of Albright College on Saturday afternoon, March 26 at the Albright College Softball Field.

The Warriors improved to 2-0 in conference play for the first time since the 2000 team opened the year 5-0 in the Freedom Conference. This is the first time since joining the Commonwealth Conference in 2007 that the Warriors opened the conference season with a win.

In the first game, Lansberry kept the Lions (6-10 overall, 0-4 Commonwealth) on their toes for most of the game, walking one and striking out four in the complete game win. She allowed just three runners to reach third base, as she pitched out of a bases-loaded jam with one out in the third inning, getting a grounder to third to force the runner at home before a flyout ended the inning. Those outs started a stretch of 10 straight outs for the hurler, before the Lions broke through with a single run in the seventh.

The Warriors (8-2 overall, 2-0 Commonwealth) continued to play with the offensive heat that has seen them post six 10-hit games during the season, as Lansberry led off the game with a single. Cline followed with a walk and a single by sophomore Taylor Lesser (Lock Haven, Pa./Central Mountain) moved the runners to second and third. A sac fly scored Lansberry and a single by senior Shauna Starr (Jersey Shore, Pa./Jersey Shore) scored Cline to gave the Warriors a 2-0 lead.

In the third inning, the Warriors tacked on five runs, as sophomore Janelle Poorman (Bellefonte, Pa./Bald Eagle Area) led off with a double and moved up on a single from Starr. Sophomore Brie Braga (New Bedford, Mass./New Bedford) drove in Poorman with a single before an error helped freshman Abbi Miller (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport Area) reach. A fielder’s choice cut Starr down at the plate, but sophomore Bethany Garnand (Hagerstown, Md./Smithsburg) kept the rally going with a single to left to drive in two runs and Lansberry cleared the bases with a two-run triple to left to give the Warriors a 7-0 lead.

In the seventh inning, the Warriors rallied again for four runs as Braga led off with a  walk before Miller hit a double to left-center. After a pair of outs were recorded, Lansberry walked to load the bases, setting up the first of six straight hits by Cline to end her day. Lesser and Poorman each followed with RBI singles, with Poorman’s hit up the middle bringing in two runs.

Lansberry led the Warriors, going 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBI and Lesser added three hits in five trips. Poorman posted two hits and three RBI and Starr also notched two hits. Miller, Braga and Cline each scored twice.

Jamie Weckesser (2-5) took the loss for the Lions, allowing 15 hits and eight earned runs in seven innings. She walked and struck out six. Brittany Bartok led the team offensively with two hits and Jackie Bohanan scored the lone run for Albright.

Down 5-2 in the second game, a seven-run fifth inning helped the Warriors post the sweep of the Lions, as Starr posted a two-RBI double to highlight the inning.

Lansberry started the rally with a single and Cline followed with a single before Lesser walked to load the bases. Garnand drove in a run with a walk, setting up Starr’s game-tying double to left-center. A wild pitch helped Garnand score the go-ahead run and Braga scored Starr with a single. A fielder’s choice for the first out followed, but a pair of errors helped set up Miller scoring before the second singles of the innings from Lansberry and Cline helped score the frame’s final run.

Now with a 9-5 lead, Braga, who entered the game in relief in the fourth inning, settled in to retire the side while only allowing a single in the sixth. In the seventh, a pair of hits and an error helped a pair of runs scored, but a groundout ended the threat and helped Braga (2-2) claim the win after allowing six hits and striking out four in four innings pitched.

The Warriors took an early lead, as Cline singled, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout. After Poorman drew a walk, a double steal helped Cline score.

The Lions scored three runs in the bottom of the inning though to take the lead. The Warriors drew within a run in the top of the third, as Cline doubled to lead off before Poorman drove her in with a  single to right field.

The Lions scored two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, setting up the Warriors’ fifth-inning rally.

Cline became just the sixth player in school history to post a five-hit game, as she finished 5-for-5 with three runs and an RBI. She is the first player to post five hits in a game since Jeanine Evans notched five against Ferrum on March 18, 2000.

Lansberry went 3-for-5 with a run and Starr went 2-for-2 with a run and two RBIs.

Bartok led the Lions, going 2-for-4 with two runs and Melanie Chapman, Nikki Schwenk and Megan Keohane each added two hits and a run.

Alex Tragno (3-4) took the loss for the Lions, allowing 11 hits, seven earned runs and five walks in six innings. She struck out four.

The Warriors get back on the field on Tuesday when they head to Selinsgrove for a 3 p.m. doubleheader against rival Susquehanna.