ELMIRA, N.Y. – Senior Dominique Thomas (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport Area) had a huge day as she finished with five hits, including a double and a home run, and six RBI to carry the Lycoming College softball team to a non-conference doubleheader sweep of Elmira College on Tuesday, April 19, winning the first game, 6-4, and the second game, 12-1 in six innings.
Thomas' home run, a three-run shot to ensure the run-rule win in the second game, was the fourth of her career, moving her into a tie for 10th in program history.
Sophomore Rachael Shady (Lock Haven, Pa./Central Mountain) finished with five hits, including a 4-for-4 effort in game two with a double, two RBI and a stolen base. Sophomore Ashley Schoenstadt (Gap, Pa./Pequea Valley) and senior Elisa Novak (Ambler, Pa./Germantown Academy) both notched two hits, as Schoenstadt legged out a triple in game two and totaled three runs, two RBI and two stolen bases while Novak scored twice and stole a base. Schoenstadt's 37 hits are five shy of the single-season record of 42 and her 13 stolen bases are three shy of the single-season mark.
Shady (8-8) got the win in the first game as she pitched a complete game, giving up four runs on 10 hits with three walks and six strikeouts.
The Warriors (16-17) got on the board first in the second inning when Thomas led off the inning with a double to center. After sophomore Samantha Fischer (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport Area) was walked, senior Kristi Weaver (Milton, Pa./Milton Area) advanced the runners to second and third on a sac bunt. During the next at-bat, Thomas scored on a passed ball while Fischer moved up to third. After senior Ashley Burger (Montoursville, Pa./Montoursville Area) was hit by a pitch, the Warriors executed a double steal with Burger taking second and Fischer getting home to take a 2-0 lead.
In the third, Shady led off the inning by reaching on an error and advanced to third two batters later when Thomas singled to center. During the next at-bat, Thomas stole second and Shady was able to score on an error on the play. Then, after a single from Fischer, Weaver lined her 33rd career double down the left field line to plate Thomas and Fischer as the Warriors took a 5-0 lead.
The Soaring Eagles (5-11) were able to get a run in the bottom of the third on three hits, but the Warriors answered right back in the top of fourth when Thomas hit a sacrifice fly to center with runners on second and third to score Shady.
The Soaring Eagles mustered three runs on four hits in the seventh to yield the final margin.
Emily Carlin (1-5) took the loss as she pitched 2.1 innings and gave up five runs (three earned) on five hits with two walks and a strikeout.
The Warriors notched eight hits in the first game and stole six bases.
Weaver (7-8) got the win in the second game, as she finished with a six-inning complete game, giving up one run on six hits with six strikeouts.
The Warriors struck first again in the second game, as Schoenstadt led off the game with a single up the middle followed by a sac bunt from Novak. Shady proceeded to single down the left field line and then stole second to put runners on second and third for sophomore Heather Secord (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown Area), who singled to right-center to score both runners as the Warriors took a 2-0 lead.
In the second, junior Kelcie Crabb (Millmont, Pa./Mifflinburg Area) singled through the left side to lead off the inning. After freshman Cayla Treaster (Williamsport, Pa./Montoursville Area) came on as a pinch runner, Burger singled down the left field line. Following a sac bunt from senior Chelsey Poorman (Bellefonte, Pa./Bald Eagle Area), Schoenstadt hit a two-RBI triple to left to give the Warriors a 4-0 lead. Two batters later, Shady doubled to left-center to score Schoenstadt.
In the fourth, Schoenstadt reached on an error and then stole second before Novak reached on an error, moving Schoenstadt to third, and also stole second. Two batters after Shady drove in Schoenstadt with an RBI single, Thomas singled to shortstop, which allowed two runners to score. ?
After giving up a run on a hit in the bottom of the fourth, the Warriors responding in the sixth when Secord, with runners on second and third, knocked an RBI single to left to score Novak from third. The next batter was Thomas, who launched a 1-0 pitch over the left-center field fence for a three-run home run to yield the final margin.
The Warriors recorded 15 hits in the second game, including three for extra bases.
Marisa Bernardi (1-2) took the loss for the Soaring Eagles, as she pitched a six-inning complete game, giving up nine earned runs.
The Soaring Eagles were led by Katie Day, who finished 5-for-6 with a run scored. Maddy Johnson and Jacquelyn Heggie both notched three hits with Johnson hitting a double and stealing a base while Heggie scored a run.
The Warriors get back on the field on Thursday, April 21, when they travel to Misericordia at 3 p.m. for their final non-conference doubleheader of the season.
