NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – A 30-hit outburst, led by five from junior Morgan Kunes (Beech Creek, Pa./Central Mountain) and a solid pitching effort that allowed just five hits helped the Lycoming College softball team cruise to a sweep of two games at Central Park on Tuesday, March 8, beating Anna Maria, 9-2, before downing Sweet Briar, 14-0, in five innings in the second game.
 
Kunes was a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs, a double and an RBI against Anna Maria (1-4 overall) before going 2-for-3 with a homer, a double, three runs and three RBI against Sweet Briar (0-5 overall) to lead the Warriors (3-0 overall).
 
Senior Kristi Weaver (Milton, Pa./Milton Area) tossed a complete-game three-hitter in the first game before going 4-for-4 with three doubles, three runs and two RBI in the second game, as she shattered the school-record for career doubles during the game. Entering the game with 25, one shy of Jess Nabholz's record of 26 set from 2007-10, she finished the game with 28.
 
Lycoming's bats came alive in the third inning of the game against Anna Maria after falling behind by two runs, scoring six runs in the frame to cruise to the 9-2 win.
 
In the bottom of the second, the AMCATS used two errors to get runners on before Taylor Gould blasted a two-RBI double.
 
Lycoming quickly responded, though, as senior Dominique Thomas (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport Area) dropped a bunt single to lead off before senior Chelsey Poorman (Bellefonte, Pa./Bald Eagle Area) reached on an error. Sophomore Ashley Schoenstadt (Gap, Pa./Pequea Valley) followed with a single to center field to plate a run and senior Elisa Novak (Ambler, Pa./Germantown Academy) duplicated the feat to tie the game. After sophomore Rachael Shady (Lock Haven, Pa./Central Mountain) was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Weaver delivered a sac fly to give the Warriors the lead.
 
Kunes followed with a double to score Novak and an error brought both Shady and Kunes around to score on the next play.
 
The Warriors tacked on another run in the fifth inning, as Kunes singled with two outs before sophomore Heather Secord (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown Area) and junior Kelcie Crabb (Millmont, Pa./Mifflinburg Area) each followed with singles to drive in Kunes. In the seventh, an error allowed Weaver to reach before senior Ashley Burger (Montoursville, Pa./Montoursville Area) walked. A single by freshman Cayla Treaster (Williamsport, Pa./Montoursville Area) drove in Weaver and Burger scored on a sac fly by Crabb.
 
Weaver (1-0), meanwhile, was in control after the second inning, retiring 13 in a row before a single in the seventh inning was followed by three more straight outs. Weaver struck out six and walked none in the complete game effort.
 
Ally Hamelin (1-1), the reigning Great Northeast Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week, took the loss, allowing four earned runs in the complete game. She allowed 10 hits and one walk while striking out one.
 
The Lycoming bats stayed viciously hot in the second game of the day, as the team pounded out 20 hits and scored 13 runs in the first three innings to cruise to the 14-0 shutout of Sweet Briar.
 
Schoenstadt led off the game with a single before Novak reached with a bunt single that allowed Schoenstadt to score and Novak scored on a triple from Shady. Weaver followed with her record-tying double and Kunes added another double to make it 4-0. Freshman Liz Nace (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) added a single to left to score Kunes. After a pair of stolen bases, she scored on a balk. After an out, Burger singled to center, moved to second on a groundout and scored the inning's seventh run on a double by Schoenstadt.
 
Lycoming continued to hit in the second inning, with Shady singling up the middle and stealing second before Weaver drove her record-breaking double to center field. Kunes followed with a walk and after two outs, Burger drove her first career homer, a three-run shot, over the left field fence.
 
In the third, Weaver added a one-out double before Kunes homered down the left-field line. Treaster drove in the final run of the game with an RBI single in the fourth inning.
 
Nace started the game, striking out three in two innings before Treaster (1-0) pitched the final three, allowing two hits and striking out one to earn her first career win.
 
Eve Mergenthaler took the loss for the Vixens, as she threw a complete game. Tessa Crawford and Mergenthaler led the team with base hits offensively.
 
The Warriors get back on the field on Wednesday, March 9, when they play two more games in the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex, facing Gettysburg at 1:30 p.m. and Eastern Menonite at 3:30 p.m.