WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - After a split against Susquehanna University was enough to help the Lycoming College softball team clinch its second straight postseason berth, the fifth-seeded will head back to fourth-seeded Susquehanna University to kick off the Landmark Conference Championship on Tuesday, May 7, at 4 p.m., for the right to enter the double-elimination four-team championship that starts on Friday, May 10, at Moravian University. 

 

Admission to the game at Sassafras Softball Field is $7 for adults (18+), $4 for minors (aged 10-17), and free for Landmark students and faculty with valid IDs. Tickets can be bought here. 
 
First-place finisher Moravian is the top seed in the tournament, while No. 2 Catholic and No. 3 Juniata will also participate. 

 

The Warriors (15-14 overall, 8-8 Landmark) enter the tournament having split doubleheaders with seven of their eight conference opponents, including the fourth-seeded River Hawks (19-17 overall, 9-7 Landmark). Susquehanna won the first game of Friday, May 6's doubleheader, 2-0, but senior Kylie Russell (Cogan Station, Pa./Jersey Shore Area) fired a four-hit shutout in the nightcap to lead the team to a 3-0 win. 

 

Russell finished the regular season 9-5 with a 2.09 ERA, striking out 81 batters in 87 innings, as the 2023 MAC Freedom Pitcher of the Year tossed shutouts against both Drew and Susquehanna. 

 

If the Warriors don't go with the southpaw, they can turn to junior Avery Eiswerth (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport Area), who has notched a 3.16 ERA with a 6-7 record, as she has struck out 78 in 86.1 innings. 

 

The pair have helped the Warriors lead the Landmark Conference in strikeouts and sit fourth in the league with a 2.90 ERA. 

 

Four Warriors finished the regular season batting better than .300, led by sophomore catcher Rachel Daub (Honesdale, Pa./Honesdale Area), who is hitting .330 with 11 RBI, entering the postseason three hits shy of reaching 100 in her career. Eiswerth, who doubles as the team's right fielder when she's not pitching, is hitting .314 with a team-best three home runs and 16 RBI. Sophomore shortstop Claire Alexander (South Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport Area) hit .305 with four doubles, four triples, 10 stolen bases and 15 runs and senior designated hitter Rachel DeWolfe (New Cumberland, Pa./Cedar Cliff) is hitting .303 with a homer and nine RBI. 

 

Susquehanna is led by Lexi Palumbo, who is hitting .434 with 10 doubles, three homers and 17 RBI and Brianna Jones, who is 13-6 with a 2.34 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 125.2 innings.