GLENSIDE, Pa. – Playing the last MAC Commonwealth champions to open the 2021 season, the Lycoming College softball team put in two good efforts, but Arcadia University was able to come-from-behind for 4-1 and 5-3 MAC Freedom wins on Sunday, March 14.
 
In the second game, Arcadia (4-0 overall) used two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to stave off a Lycoming (0-2 overall) rally and post a 5-3 win.
 
Down 3-1 in the fifth inning, Lycoming got to work when senior Taylor Gessner (Lewisburg, Pa./Northumberland Christian) singled to left with one out. Sophomore Morgan Wetzel (Lock Haven, Pa./Central Mountain) followed with a walk and junior Morgan Klosko (Kingston, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) delivered an RBI double to left before a groundout allowed Wetzel scored to tie the game.
 
The Knights took the lead back in the bottom of the inning, as a leadoff single, a fielder's choice and a sac bunt left runners at second and third with one out before a passed ball and a groundout plated the two deciding runs. Lycoming's last six batters were retired in order.
 
In the bottom of the inning, a leadoff single, and a sac bunt that didn't yield an out led to the
The Warriors took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, as freshman Kylie Segraves (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) led off with a walk before sophomore Mackenzie Glosek (Coal Township, Pa./Shamokin Area) reached on an error. After a fielder's choice, freshman Rachel DeWolfe (New Cumberland, Pa./Cedar Cliff) delivered a single to left to load the bases. Senior Lydia Yorks (Jersey Shore, Pa./Jersey Shore) followed with a shot that a diving shortstop was able to get to and force the runner at third, but allowing Glosek to score. Freshman Kylie Russell (Jersey Shore, Pa./Jersey Shore Area) reloaded the bases with a sharp single to left, but DeWolfe wasn't able to score on the hard-hit ball and a strikeout ended the frame.
 
Arcadia responded with a small ball run in the second off a leadoff single, a bunt, a groundout and a two-out single. In the third, it took the lead with two more runs off three hits and an error.
 
DeWolfe led the Warriors with two of the team's five hits in the nightcap. Megan Sooy led the Knights with two of their nine hits.
 
Junior Angie King (Cooperstown, Pa./Maplewood) (0-2) took the loss in relief for the Warriors, allowing two hits and an earned run in two innings. Sophomore Payton Whary (Coal Township, Pa./Shamokin Area) pitched four innings, allowing seven hits and two earned runs.
 
Juliana Presto (2-0) earned the win in relief for the Knights, as she retired eight of the nine batters she faced, allowing just a walk and striking out four.
 
In the first game, Wetzel led the Warriors with two hits and a walk, posting a fourth-inning single and a seventh-inning double, but Arcadia scored the final four runs in a 4-1 win.
 
The Warriors got on the board in their first at bat, as sophomore Madelyn Bechdel (Beech Creek, Pa./Central Mountain) singled to left before Gessner doubled to the gap. After a walk loaded the bases, a hard-hit fielder's choice from Klosko brought Bechdel in.
 
The Warrior defense also made some nice plays in the first two innings, with shortstop DeWolfe grabbing a liner above her head for the last out of the first inning, saving at least one run. In the second, third baseman Gessner moved back to make an over-the-shoulder catch of a looper on a slash swing.
 
Arcadia, though, tied the game in the bottom of the third inning, thanks to a pair of two-out extra-base hits, and took the lead with two runs in the fourth, notching four hits, with a single to right by Brooke Ward giving the Knights the lead. Arcadia scratched across one more run in the sixth, thanks to two infield hits.
 
Madi Costigan paced Arcadia's offense, going 3-for-4 with a run, RBI and triple and Ward went 2-for-3 with a run and RBI.
 
Kylie Schwind earned the win, allowing a run, a walk and three hits in four innings. Juliana Presto struck out six and allowed one hit in three innings of relief to get the save for the nights.
 
King took the loss for the Warriors, allowing seven hits and three runs in 3 1/3 innings. Freshman Kylie Russell (Cogan Station, Pa./Jersey Shore Area) threw the last 2 2/3 innings, allowing a run and four hits. She struck out two.
 
The Warriors will make a second go at a home opener on Saturday, March 20, when they host Delaware Valley in a MAC Freedom doubleheader at 1 p.m. at the Shangraw Athletic Complex.