NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Lycoming College softball team had the tying run 60 feet away in the first game and brought the tying run to the plate in the second game, but Division II Mansfield University was able to sneak away with a 2-1 win in a pitcher's dual and a 13-11 win in a slugfest at the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex on Thursday, March 16.
 
In the first game, the Warriors (6-2 overall) and Mounties (8-5 overall) locked up in a pitcher's duel, with Mansfield's single runs in the fourth and sixth innings enough to hold up in the 2-1 win.
 
Junior Rachael Shady (Lock Haven, Pa./Central Mountain) (3-2) allowed nine hits in the game, but left five Mansfield runners on base and she gained the benefit of some nice defensive plays behind her, including an inventive double play in the third inning, when freshman Madison Brown (McElhattan, Pa./Central Mountain) tagged a runner between first and second and tossed the ball back to Shady as the Mansfield runner on first took off. Shady tossed it back to Brown for the easy putout.
 
In the fourth, Mansfield finally opened the scoring, as Melanie Taylor delivered an RBI single with two outs and a runner on second and they added another run on the sixth off a two-out RBI double from Taylor.
 
The Warriors rallied in the seventh, getting the game-tying run to third base. Junior Samantha Fischer (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport Area) and Brown each reached on one-out errors before junior Ashley Schoenstadt (Gap, Pa./Pequea Valley) delivered a single into left. A groundout moved the runners up, but Mansfield pitcher Ari Young got a fly ball to end the threat.
 
Schoenstadt went 2-for-4 with a RBI and freshmen Kayla Kline (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) and Darci Warriner (Wellsboro, Pa./Wellsboro) each added two hits.
 
Taylor led the Mounties, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and Laura Lawson had two hits and a run. Young (6-2) allowed eight hits and no earned runs complete game win, as she struck out four.
 
In the second game, all nine Warriors in the starting lineup had at least one of the team's 15 hits, but a four-run rally in the fifth inning helped the Mounties rally for the 13-11 win.
 
In a game that had four lead changes, the Warriors mounted two of their biggest innings of the season, posting a four-run first inning and a six-run fourth inning.
 
In the first, the team rallied from a 2-0 deficit with two outs when Kline reached second on an error, setting up an RBI single by senior Morgan Kunes (Beech Creek, Pa./Central Mountain). Shady followed with a single and senior Kelcie Crabb (Millmont, Pa./Mifflinburg) followed with a walk to load the bases, for Warriner, who walked to drive in a run. Sophomore Rachel Duda (Jersey Shore, Pa./Jersey Shore) followed with a two-RBI single to right.
 
Mansfield scored a single run in the third before adding four in the top of the fourth to take a 7-4 lead, but the Warriors rallied with six runs on seven hits in the bottom of the frame to get a 10-7 lead. Brown and Schoenstadt led off the inning with singles before moving up on a passed ball. Kline lifted a sac fly to right, which coupled with a throwing error allowed both runners to score to make it 7-6. Kunes added a single before a fielder's choice allowed Shady to reach. Crabb singled to right and Warriner walked to load the based before a passed ball scored Shady to tie the game.
 
Duda gave the Warriors the lead with an infield single before Fischer drove in two more runs with a double to left field, ending the scoring in the frame.
 
Mansfield responded with four runs in the top of the fifth and scored two more in the seventh, but Lycoming again rallied in the bottom of the seventh. Schoenstadt and Kline each singled to start the frame and Schoenstadt scored on a groundout to short for the second out, but that was as close as the Warriors could get.
 
Brown, Schoenstadt, Kline, Kunes, Duda and Fischer each had two hits for the Warriors, while Schoenstadt, Shady and Crabb each had two runs. Duda had three RBI and Fischer had two.
 
Rachel Sterner went 3-for-4 with three runs for the Mounties and Koryn Wickwire went 2-for-3 with three runs and three RBI. Dehae Jones also went 3-for-3 with two runs.
 
Connor Decker (1-0) earned the win in relief, allowing one run on five hits in 3 1/3 innings. Shady (3-2) took the loss, allowing four runs and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings of relief. She struck out four.
 
The Warriors wrap up their trip in South Carolina on Friday, March 17, when they face Gettysburg at 11:30 a.m. at the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex.