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NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Junior Brie Braga (New Bedford, Mass./New Bedford) and freshman Caroline Lapano (Harrisburg, Pa./Trinity) combined for the third perfect game in the Lycoming College softball team’s history and junior Janelle Poorman (Bellefonte, Pa./Bald Eagle Area) set the school’s career record for home runs to highlight the team’s season-opening 10-0 win over Principia on Monday morning, March 12. The Warriors added a 9-4 win over Division II Clarion to wrap up their first day of play at the National Collegiate Sports Invitational at Central Park.
 
In the opener, Braga tossed three innings, striking out seven of the nine batters she faced before Lapano struck out three in her two innings of work to close out the 10-0 run-rule shortened effort against Principia (0-1 overall), the first perfect game for the Warriors (2-0 overall) since Kristen Reese tossed one against Keystone on March 11, 2006.
 
Lycoming scored in all five frames, with Poorman providing the clinching blow with her eighth career home run in the fifth inning, breaking the record set by Jen Shuler (1996-99) and Jessica Feerrar (2000-03).
 
The Warriors got on the board in the first inning, as freshman Kristen Steiner (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) walked, took second on a sac bunt and scored on a single by Poorman. In the second inning, freshman Katie Pugh (Sykesville, Md./Century) doubled to left center with two outs before junior Allyson Marianelli (Old Forge, Pa./Old Forge) added a triple to left to drive in Pugh.
 
In the third inning, a pair of errors and a walk loaded the bases, setting up RBI singles by sophomore Abbi Miller (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport Area) and Pugh, making it 4-0. Three more runs crossed in the fourth, thanks to two walks, an error and an RBI single by Poorman. In the fifth, Lycoming wrapped up the win as freshman Katie Moeller (Frederickburg, Va./Chancellor) singled before a pair of groundouts set up an RBI single by junior Taylor Lesser (Lock Haven, Pa./Central Mountain). Poorman followed with her two-run blast to round out the scoring.
 
Poorman went 3-for-3 with four RBI and a run to lead the Warriors, while Lesser and Steiner each scored three times. Pugh also went 2-for-3 with a run and RBI.
 
Casey Lee pitched five innings in the loss for Principia, allowing nine hits, six walks and five earned runs.
 
The Warriors kept the offensive momentum going against Clarion (0-2 overall), jumping out with at least two runs in the first four innings to help lift it to a 9-4 win over the Division II program.
 
Two errors and a walk helped Lycoming get on the board in the first inning with two runs. In the second, freshman Nikki Marianelli (Old Forge, Pa./Old Forge) led off with a single. After Allyson Marianelli walked and a groundout moved the runners up, junior Amy Cline (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg Area) followed with a two-run single up the middle.
 
Clarion closed within a run at 4-3 in the top of the third, using two errors and two singles to post the three runs. Lycoming responded, though, as Braga hit a one out double and Pugh followed with a  two-out single. An illegal pitch moved Pugh to second, where she scored on a single by Nikki Marianelli.
 
In the fourth inning, a leadoff error helped junior Holly Lansberry (Curwensville, Pa./Curwensville Area) reach on an error before Cline drove her in with a double to left field. Lesser scored Cline with a single and Poorman followed with an RBI single to score Lesser.
 
While the Warrior offense slowed in the last three innings, Clarion saw nine runners reach in the last four innings, but Lansberry stranded eight.
 
Cline led the Warriors by going 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBI and Nikki Marianelli went 2-for-3 with a run and RBI. Lesser scored twice for the Warriors.
 
Kacie Nemeth led the Eagles with two hits and a RBI.
 
Lansberry (1-0) pitched a complete-game eight-hitter, allowing two earned runs and striking out six while walking three. Julie Sokol (0-1) took the loss for the Eagles, allowing eight hits and six earned runs in three innings.
 
The Warriors host another doubleheader on Tuesday, March 13, facing Principia at 9:30 a.m. before taking on Eureka at 11:30 a.m. at the Central Park Complex.