WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Senior Claire Alexander (South Williamsport, Pa. / South Williamsport Area) swiped her way into the Lycoming College softball record book in the opener to help the Lycoming College softball team to a split with Wilkes University, winning 9-8 in game one and falling 4-2 in game two on Wednesday, April 15, at the Shangraw Athletic Complex.
Alexander stole two bases in game one as she upped her school record to 35 steals in her career, passing Ashley Schoenstadt's mark of 33 set from 20015-18, as part of a 15-hit attack for Lycoming (9-14, 5-7 Landmark) in the opener, keeping pace with Wilkes (15-13, 4-6 Landmark) in a crowded Landmark Conference race.
After starter Sage Smeltz (Tower City, Pa. / Williams Valley) worked around two leadoff hits in a scoreless first, the Warriors jumped out to a quick start in the first. Senior Mallory Rodarmel (Montoursville, Pa. / Montoursville Area) stroked an RBI single, then scored two batters later on an RBI hit from first year Isabelle Engel (Jersey Shore, Pa. / Jersey Shore Area) that gave Lycoming a 2-0 lead.
Two innings later, the Warriors added to the lead, as Alexander led off with a single and stole second. Senior Alex Eckersen (Hopatcong, N.J. / Morris Catholic) followed with a double down the left-field line to score Alexander. With two outs, the Warriors strung together three straight hits, including a second RBI single for Engel and an RBI hit to left from Smeltz to cap off a three-run frame that put the Warriors ahead 5-0.
In the fourth, sophomore Jocelyn McCracken (Jersey Shore, Pa. / Jersey Shore Area) led off with a single, then moved to second on a walk and came around to score on Rodarmel's second RBI hit of the afternoon.
After Smeltz started her day with four scoreless innings, Wilkes battled back in the fifth. Mia Butka and Audrey Rinda each swatted RBI doubles, but first year Kendall Cardone (South Williamsport, Pa. / South Williamsport Area) and Alexander teamed up on a perfect relay to the plate to cut down another potential run at the plate, keeping Lycoming in front 6-2.
In the sixth, though, the Warriors changed pitchers and Wilkes responded by batting around, scoring four runs on three hits to tie the game at six apiece. With one out in the inning, Smeltz returned to the circle and was able to put the clamps down, keeping the game tied at six apiece.
Lycoming then answered right back to regain the lead. Eckersen and Rodarmel began the inning with hits, then after a sacrifice bunt, Engel swatted her third RBI single of the game. A wild pitch then brought home Rodarmel. With two outs in the frame, Smeltz helped her own cause with an RBI single for the final Lycoming tally.
Wilkes made a strong push with a two-out rally in the seventh, stringing together four hits and scoring twice, cutting the deficit to one with two on and two outs. However, Cardone made a running catch in foul territory, hanging on as she hit the fence to end the game and preserve a 9-8 victory.
Rodarmel, Engel, and Smeltz all finished with three hits, with Engel driving in three and the other two driving in two runs apiece. Eckerson and McCracken each had two-hit games as well. Smeltz (6-4) worked 6 1/3 innings in total in the circle, allowing four runs on 11 hits to earn the win.
Butka, Maddy Maloney, and Talia Piragas each had three hits and two RBI for Wilkes in the opener.
In the nightcap, the Colonels took the early lead in the first inning. Wilkes loaded the bases with one out, then pulled in front on a sacrifice fly by Olivia Dougher for a 1-0 lead.
Lycoming only tallied one baserunner in the first three innings, but in the fourth, the Warriors strung together four hits to take the lead. Back-to-back singles from Eckersen and Engel opened the inning, then senior Hailee Sobieski (Wharton, N.J. / Morris Catholic) stroked an RBI single to left. With runners on the corners, Smeltz then legged out a fielder's choice that brought in a second run for a 2-1 advantage.
Wilkes, though, immediately answered back in the fifth. Hana Cross led off the inning with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly, narrowly beating a strong throw home from McCracken in right to tie the game. In the sixth, Wilkes took the lead, as two one-out walks were followed by a double steal, leading to a sacrifice fly from Julia Kapitula to give the Colonels a 3-2 lead. The Colonels added another tally in the seventh as Cross led off with a double, then scored on a single from Maloney for the final run of the day.
Engel and McCracken each had two hits in game two, while Engel also spun a complete game in the nightcap, allowing four runs on eight hits.
Cross had a double, a triple, and two runs scored for Wilkes, while Maloney had two hits, an RBI, and a run scored. Lauren DeMarco spun a complete-game six-hitter to earn the win.
The Warriors will return to action on Saturday, April 18 when they celebrate Senior Day with a Landmark Conference doubleheader against Moravian University. First pitch from the Shangraw Athletic Complex is scheduled for 1 p.m.
