ANNVILLE, Pa. — Senior Claire Alexander (Montoursville, Pa. / South Williamsport Area) stroked two doubles among a three-hit afternoon to move into the top 10 in school history in career hits to lead the Lycoming College softball team, which fell 9-4 and 4-1, in a non-conference doubleheader at Lebanon Valley College on Monday, March 30 at LVC Softball Field.
Alexander's three hits give her 115 in her career and moved her past Madison Brown '20, who posted 114. She also scored three runs to move into fifth alone in program history with 78 career runs, while her 22 doubles are sixth.
In, the opening contest, Lebanon Valley (8-12) jumped out with five runs on six hits in the first inning, including a pair of RBI triples. Three more runs in the second gave the Flying Dutchmen to an 8-0 advantage.
Lycoming (5-11) was able to draw closer later in the contest, starting with a single from sophomore Ashley Forrest (Red Hill, Pa. / Upper Perkiomen) that drove in Alexander in the third. One inning later, senior Sophia Lerner (Scotch Plains, N.J. / Scott Plains-Fanwood) came home on an error. The Warriors also made a push in the top of the seventh, scoring twice on an RBI double from Alexander, who then came around on an error for the final tally of the contest.
Alexander notched two hits, two runs, a double, and an RBI in the opener. Junior right-hander Kendall McAnelly (Williamsport, Pa. / Williamsport Area) entered from the bullpen to start the third, spinning four innings of one-run ball, allowing four hits and striking out three.
Holly Grube led Lebanon Valley with three hits and two doubles at the plate, while allowing four runs (two earned) over 6 1/3 innings to earn the win. Maddy Gronback added two hits, two runs, and two RBI.
In the nightcap, the Warriors jumped in front in the top of the first. Alexander led off the game with a double, then scored three batters later on a two-out RBI double from senior Hailee Sobieski (Wharton, N.J. / Morris Catholic) for a 1-0 lead.
Miley Beachel belted a game-tying RBI triple in the bottom of the frame, then scored on an error to give Lebanon Valley a 2-1 edge. In the fourth, Lebanon Valley loaded the bases with no outs, then Grube lifted a sacrifice fly and Beachel singled home another to push the Dutchmen ahead by three.
After not scoring for four innings, the Warriors strung together three consecutive one-out singles to load the bases. Forrest followed with a sacrifice fly that brought home senior Alex Eckersen (Hopatcong, N.J. / Morris Catholic) to close the gap to 4-2, though Lebanon Valley immediately got the run right back to restore their three-run cushion, the final tally of the night.
Sobieski had two hits and an RBI in game two, while first year Sage Smeltz (Tower City, Pa. / Williams Valley) stroked two hits and allowed two earned runs over 5.0 innings in the circle.
Beachel led the Dutchmen with three hits, a triple, and two RBI. Megan Heard also rapped three hits and drove in a run. Right-hander Abby Reed spun a complete-game eight-hitter to earn the win.
The Warriors will be back in action on Saturday, April 4, when they welcome Drew University for a Landmark Conference doubleheader. First pitch from the Shangraw Athletic Complex is scheduled for 1 p.m.
