WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – Junior
Kylie Russell (Cogan Station, Pa./Jersey Shore Area) threw an eight-inning two-hitter for her league-leading sixth shutout of the season to lead the Lycoming College softball team, which kept hold of second place in the MAC Freedom and clinch a spot in the conference championship in a split with King's College, falling 5-2 in the first game before posting a 1-0 win in game two at Betzler Field on Saturday afternoon, April 22.
In the eighth inning, first-year
Claire Alexander (South Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport Area) doubled to lead off. After a sac bunt, senior
Morgan Wetzel (Mill Hall, Pa./Central Mountain) singled into center field with the lone run of the game.
The Warriors (21-11 overall, 11-3 MAC Freedom) had nine hits in the game and left runners stranded at third base in both the third and fourth innings.
Third-place King's (18-12 overall, 8-4 MAC Freedom), meanwhile only had five runners reach base against a game Russell (11-3), who retired 12 in a row from the fourth to the eighth innings. King's did have two runners reach in the eighth thanks to an error and a hit batter, but Russell ended the game with a strikeout to give head coach
Melissa Montoro the 150
th win of her career.
Russell allowed 12 flyouts and five groundouts, striking out seven and walking none in the gem, as she threw 113 pitches in her MAC Freedom-leading sixth shutout of the year.
Alexander went 2-for-4 with a run and two doubles, Wetzel went 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI and sophomore
Rachel Daub (Honesdale, Pa./Honesdale Area) also had two hits for the Warriors.
Harley Sullivan and Molly Gillette had fourth-inning singles for the Monarchs. Emily Novicki (7-5) took the hard-luck loss, allowing nine hits and a run. She struck out seven.
Lycoming got on the board first in the opening game, but King's scored five runs in the last two innings to post a 5-2 win.
The Warriors scored twice in the fourth inning, with junior
Kylie Segraves (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport Area) being hit by a pitch to lead off before sophomore
Avery Eiswerth (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport Area) doubled with one out, setting up a two-RBI double from Daub.
King's scored three in the fifth with Bailey Loyack notching a two-out triple before scoring to give King's the lead. In the sixth, the Monarchs added two more to round out the scoring.
Kara Krouse went 2-for-4 with a double and a run and RBI and Olivia Krupski went 3-for-4 with a triple, run and RBI.
Eiswerth (5-3) led the Warriors offensively, going 2-for-3 with a run. She pitched a complete game as well, allowing 10 hits and four earned runs. She walked one and struck out five. Brandi McIntosh (7-4) tossed a six-hitter, allowing two runs and a walk in the complete game.
The Warriors get back on the field on Sunday, April 23, when they head to Keystone College for a 1 p.m. doubleheader. The two teams will participate in a Suicide Awareness Game.
