NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – First-year Avery Eiswerth (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport Area) tossed a complete game with nine strikeouts in her collegiate debut and sophomore Kylie Russell (Jersey Shore, Pa./Jersey Shore Area) had five hits on the first day of the season to lead the Lycoming College softball team, which posted a 7-2 win over St. Joseph's (Long Island) on Monday evening, March 14, and dropped a 6-1 decision to St. Joseph's (Brooklyn) during the afternoon.
 
Eiswerth tossed a seven-hitter against the Golden Eagles (2-2 overall), striking out nine and walking two in the win. She struck out the side looking in the fourth inning and had two strikeout frames in the fifth and sixth innings as well. She allowed just two unearned runs in the contest.
 
Russell went 2-for-3 with two RBIs in the game to lead the Warriors' 11-hit attack, as the opportunistic team struck three times in both the second and third frames for six unearned runs.
 
Senior Kacee Reitz (Milton, Pa./Milton Area) went 2-for-3 with two runs, first-year catcher Rachel Daub (Honesdale, Pa./Honesdale) went 3-for-4 with three runs and junior Mackenzie Glosek (Coal Township, Pa./Shamokin Area) went 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI for the Warriors (1-1 overall).
 
The Warriors got on the board in the second inning, as Reitz and Daub each led off with singles before a throwing error on a sac bunt allowed Reitz to score. With two outs, Russell notched an RBI single and seeing-eye grounder from sophomore Kylie Segraves (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport Area) scored the last run of the inning.
 
In the third inning, Reitz got things started with a one-out single before a pair of errors helped her score. Glosek followed with an RBI single and with two outs, Russell drove in another run with a single up the middle.
 
The Golden Eagles got on the board in the bottom of the third with a triple and an error to score Lindsay Ness, but the Warriors got the lead back to six in the fifth inning when Daub singled before a sac bunt moved her to third on an alert play, where she scored on a single up the middle from Glosek.
 
A walk, stolen base and throwing error led to the Golden Eagles' second run in the fifth, but Eiswerth allowed just one more base runner in the last two innings.
 
Jenna DeFina led the Golden Eagles, going 3-for-3 with a run and stolen base. Alexa Tinety took the loss, allowing four hits and five unearned runs in 2 1/3 innings.
 
The Warriors scratched out nine hits in the opener, but 14 runners left on base, helped St. Joseph's (Brooklyn) keep the game out of reach in a 6-1 win.
 
Russell went 3-for-4 with a triple and a run to lead the Warriors and Reitz went 2-for-4 with a RBI. Segraves went 1-for-1 with three walks and junior Madalyn Bechdel (Beech Creek, Pa./Central Mountain) also had a pinch-hit single.
 
The Bears scored three in the first inning, aided by doubles from Bella Gomez and Ashleigh Hartwig before adding another run in the third and two in the fifth.
 
The Warriors got on the board in the bottom of the sixth, as Russell led off with a triple to left field before Reitz singled to score her.
 
Hartwig led the Bears, going 3-for-4 with three runs and a RBI and Bella Hurtado went 3-for-4 with a run. Nicole Trani went 2-for-2 with a run and two RBI.
 
Junior Payton Whary (Shamokin, Pa./Shamokin Area) tossed five innings, allowing five earned runs, nine hits and a walk. She struck out two. Russell tossed two scoreless innings, allowing two hits.
 
Brianna Kilimet earned the win for the Bears, allowing nine hits, four walks and one run in a complete game. She struck out five.
 
The Warriors get back on the field on Tuesday, March 15, when they face Franklin Pierce at 11:30 a.m. and Mount Aloysius at 1:30 p.m. at the North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex.