Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

GRANTHAM, Pa. – A seventh-inning rally by the Lycoming College softball team in the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader against Commonwealth Conference foe Messiah College fell 60 feet short and the conference favorite Messiah was able to sneak away with 3-2 and 5-2 wins at Starry Field.
 
The Warriors, down 3-1, entering the seventh inning got out to a quick start as freshman shortstop Kristin Steiner (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) led off with a single up the middle and junior Allyson Marianelli (Old Forge, Pa./Old Forge) followed with a double down the left field line, to score Steiner. Marianelli took third on an error, but a strikeout, a pop out and a groundout ended the rally.
 
Lycoming (5-15 overall, 0-6 Commonwealth) got out to a strong start with a first-inning run, as senior Holly Lansberry (Curwensville, Pa./Curwensville Area) led off with a single, took second on a sac bunt and score on a single to left center by junior Taylor Lesser (Lock Haven, Pa./Central Mountain).
 
The Falcons (21-6 overall, 6-0 Commonwealth) tied the game thanks to a triple by Jaclyn Merkel in the bottom of the first and tied the game in the fourth as Merkel doubled and came around to score on a pair of sacrifices. The Falcons added another tally in the fifth, setting up the Warriors seventh-inning comeback effort.
 
Sara Dietrich earned the win for the Falcons, allowing seven hits and two runs. She walked one and struck out one in 6-plus innings. Mallory Rutledge earned the save, getting the three batters she faced out. Junior Brie Braga (New Bedford, Mass./New Bedford) took the loss for the Warriors, allowing six hits and three runs in the complete game.
 
Merkel led the Falcons with three hits, a run and RBI. Lansberry and Steiner each had two hits and a run for the Warriors.
 
A four-run third-inning helped lift the Falcons to a sweep of the Warriors, as they posted a 5-2 decision.
 
The Falcons broke open the game with five singles in the third inning. The Warriors got on the board in the fifth inning, as junior Amy Cline (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) led off by getting hit by a pitch. After moving to second on a groundout, she stole third and scored on a two-out single by freshman Caroline Lapano (Harrisburg, pa./Trinity).
 
The Falcons, thanks to a triple from Sara Seneca in the bottom of the fifth, took a 5-1 lead, but Lycoming responded as Braga blasted a one-out double, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a single by Lansberry.
 
Lansberry led the Warriors with two hits and a RBI in the second game, as she posted four hits in the doubleheader. Seneca led the Falcons with three hits and two runs and Krista Ammon added two hits, a run and three RBI.
Rutledge (5-2) earned the win in relief for the Falcons, posting five hits and two runs in 3 2/3 innings. Lansberry (2-6) took the loss for the Warriors, allowing five hits and four runs in 2 1/3 innings. She struck out two.
 
The Warriors get back on the field after the holiday break, facing Juniata on Wednesday, April 11 in Hutingdon, Pa., at 3 p.m.