Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Sophomore Dominique Thomas (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport Area) hit a rocket that looked like it was headed up the middle and to lead the Lycoming College softball team to a split of Saturday, April 12's Commonwealth Conference doubleheader with Arcadia University, but Sarah Gunia got a glove on it and threw out Thomas at first. Arcadia went on to a 2-1 nine-inning win after a 9-2 win in the first game to sweep the important conference doubleheader.
 
Down 1-0 in the bottom of the eighth inning, junior Nicole Marianelli (Old Forge, Pa./Old Forge Area) delivered an infield single and moved to second on a sac bunt for the Warriors (10-15 overall, 3-7 Commonwealth). After a lineout, sophomore Kristi Weaver (Milton, Pa./Milton Area) dropped a double down the line to score Marianelli. Thomas stepped up and got a solid swing, but pitcher Gunia, made a stab of the ensuing hot shot up the middle and fired to first to end the inning.
 
In the ninth, Alicia McMahon led off Arcadia's inning with a single up the middle and moved to second on a sac bunt. Natalie O'Reilly followed with a single into center field that dropped in front of Thomas and put runners on second and third. A groundout by Ashley John pushed the winning run across.
 
After seven scoreless frames to start the game, the Knights (13-15 overall, 7-5 Commonwealth) got on the board in the eighth inning when Jessica Shotwell led off with a bunt single. After a pair of grounders moved her to third, Jessica Wood delivered a single up the middle just out of the reach of the diving shortstop.
 
The Warriors were led in the game by Weaver, who went 3-for-4 with a  pair of doubles and a RBI. Marianelli added a hit, a run and a walk.
 
Shotwell went 2-for-5 with a  run and Wood went 2-for-4 with a RBI for the Knights. McMahon also went 2-for-4 with a run.
 
Junior Caroline Lapano (Harrisburg, Pa./Trinity) (3-6) took the hard-luck loss for the Warriors, allowing nine hits and two runs in the complete game. Gunia earned the win, allowing eight hits and one run in nine innings. She struck out four and survived two line drives in the ninth to come up with the win.
 
In the first game, Arcadia broke open a 3-2 game with a six-run seventh inning to take a 9-2 decision.
 
The Knights scored a run in each of the first three innings to take a 3-0 lead before the Warriors responded with two runs in the bottom of the third. Weaver hit a one-out double and came around to score on a single to right by Marianelli. Sophomore Ashley Witmer (Lancaster, Pa./Penn Manor) followed with a double to right field to score Marianelli, but a pop up ended the inning.
 
The Warriors had runners reach in each of the next three innings, even reaching scoring position twice, but couldn't find the equalizer. In the seventh, Arcadia used five hits, two errors and a walk to break open the game with six runs.
 
Marianelli led the Warriors, going 2-for-3 with a double, a run and RBI, helping her reach 50 hits in her career with her first hit of the game. Lapano went 2-for-3 and sophomore Ashley Burger (Montoursville, Pa./Montoursville Area) went 2-for-3, as the Warriors posted nine hits in the game.
 
Shotwell and Nicole Larro led the Knights, with each going 3-for-5 with two runs and a RBI. Leanda Helms and Gunia each added two hits and a run.
 
Weaver (7-8) took the loss for Lycoming, allowing 15 hits and five earned runs in the complete game. She walked two and struck out four. Erin Wilson (7-6) tossed a complete game for the Knights, allowing nine hits and two runs. She struck out five.
 
The Warriors are back on the field on Sunday, April 13, when they head to Stevenson for a 1 p.m. Commonwealth Conference doubleheader.