CHESTER, Pa. – Junior Liz Nace (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge) pitched six innings of five-hit ball and added two hits at the plate to lead the Lycoming College softball team,  but 2017 MAC Commonwealth champion Widener University scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to earn the doubleheader sweep, winning the first game, 10-2 in six innings, and the nightcap, 2-0, on Saturday afternoon, April 21, at the Widener University Softball Field.
 
Nace threw 3 1/3 innings of no-hit ball and didn't allow a baserunner to reach second base until the bottom of the sixth inning. The junior righthander gave up just five hits, struck out five and didn't allow any walks.
 
After being one-hit for the first five innings, the Pride (13-13 overall, 8-6 MAC Commonwealth) laced four singles in the sixth, including a two-run single up the middle to take the lead. The Warriors had a chance in the top of the seventh, loading the bases on a single from senior Ashley Schoenstadt (Gap, Pa./Pequea Valley), junior Lexie Kovin (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) reaching on an error and sophomore Lydia Yorks (Jersey Shore, Pa./Jersey Shore Area) taking four straight pitches to earn a walk, filling the bases with two outs. Widener pitcher Bella Bottini, though, induced the groundout to take the win.
 
Nace and Schoenstadt each went 2-for-3 for Lycoming, accounting for all four hits.
 
Widener's Lauren DelRomano was 2-for-3 and Katie Sterling's two-run sixth-inning single powered the Pride.
 
Bottini pitched seven four-hit innings, striking out four to earn her fifth win.
 
In the opener, the Warriors gave everything Widener could handle early, coming back from a 3-0 first-inning deficit and got within one in the top of the second. Schoenstadt and senior Rachael Shady (Lock Haven, Pa./Central Mountain) each reached on an error, with Schoenstadt coming around from first to score on a throwing error. With Shady on second, junior Cayla Treaster (Williamsport, Pa./Montoursville Area) brought her around with a first-pitch single to get within one.
 
Shady retired nine of the next 11 Widener batters before two walks and a three-run home run from Katie Sterling increased the lead to four in the fifth. The Pride scored four runs on three hits in the bottom of the sixth to put the game away.
 
Nace, Shady, Treaster, Yorks and sophomore Darci Warriner (Wellsboro, Pa./Wellsboro Area) each picked up a hit for Lycoming.
 
Sterling led Widener at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three runs and six RBIs and Lindsey Cooper went 1-for-3 with three RBIs.
 
Shady struck out three in 5 2/3 innings worth of work. Katie Rabuck (6-5) gave up five hits, no earned runs and struck out four to earn the win.
 
The Warriors return to action on Sunday, April 22, when they head to Hood College for a MAC Commonwealth doubleheader at 1 p.m.