GRANTHAM, Pa. – Junior Ashley Schoenstadt (Gap, Pa./Pequea Valley) led the Lycoming College softball team with four hits, a double, her first career home run and five RBI in Thursday, April 20's doubleheader with Messiah College, but ninth-ranked Messiah was able to edge out Lycoming in a pair of one-run MAC Commonwealth games, winning 3-2 in the first game and 5-4 in eight innings in the second.
 
In the second game, the Warriors (18-12 overall, 5-7 MAC Commonwealth) rallied from three runs down in the sixth inning, but Messiah (29-6 overall, 12-2 MAC Commonwealth) was able to scratch a run across in the bottom of the eighth to walk away with a pair of important conference wins.
 
Down 4-1, the Warriors started their sixth-inning rally with a single to center from junior Rachael Shady (Lock Haven, Pa./Central Mountain) before senior Morgan Kunes (Beech Creek, Pa./Central Mountain) followed with a single to left. After a flyout, Schoenstadt doubled to bring in Shady and Kunes before scoring herself off an error.
 
The Falcons won the game in the eighth when Emily Quatrale walked, took second on a groundout and scored on a single by Shannon Denny.
 
Messiah got on the board in the second with home runs from Amber Bingaman and Amanda Peterson. Lycoming cut the lead in half in the fourth, as Shady singled up the middle, moved to second on a groundout and scored on a two-out single up the middle by Schoenstadt.
 
The Falcons used four hits in the fifth to score two more runs and set up Lycoming's comeback.
 
Shady went 2-for-4 with two runs and Schoenstadt went 2-for-4 with three RBI to lead the Warriors. Carrie Fix led the Falcons, going 3-for-4 with a run and Denny went 2-for-4 with a run and RBI.
 
Sophomore Liz Nace (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) tossed the first six innings for the Warriors, allowing eight hits, a walk and a strikeout. Shady (10-7) took the loss, allowing two hits, two walks and a strikeout in 1 1/3 innings. Madelyn Yannetti (14-3) earned the win for the Falcons, allowing seven hits, three walks and four runs.
 
In the first game, a pair of unearned runs helped Messiah overcome an early two-run deficit to post a 3-2 win.
 
The Warriors got the scoring started in the first game, as senior Kelcie Crabb (Millmont, Pa./Mifflinburg) singled with one out to set up Schoenstadt, who delivered her first career homer.
 
Messiah answered, tying the game in the third. Samantha Esper keyed the rally with a triple to left before scoring on a squeeze play. The Falcons got the lead in the fourth when Fix walked with the bases loaded after an error had loaded the bases with two outs.
 
Lycoming rallied back in the seventh, as Schoenstadt led off with a single up the middle before moving to second on a groundout by sophomore Rachel Duda (Jersey Shore, Pa./Jersey Shore Area). However, Falcon hurler Fix got two strikeouts, her only two of the game to secure the win.
 
Schoenstadt led the Warriors, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and a homer. Esper led the Falcons in the game, going 2-for-3 with a triple in a run.
 
Shady (10-6) took the loss, as she allowed one earned run in six innings of work. She walked four and struck out five. Fix (12-2) earned the win, tossing a four-hitter and walking two and striking out two over seven innings.
 
The Warriors get back on the field on Saturday, April 22, when they head to Arcadia for another critical MAC Commonwealth doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.