Softball Plays Tough in Doubleheader Sweep by Messiah

(Game 1) / (Game 2)

Widener fought hard against perennial power Messiah in dropping a pair of Commonwealth Conference games, 7-2 and 3-2 in Grantham, PA.

Widener (16-14, 4-6 CC) in game one plated two runs in the top of the first inning on bases-loaded walks to juniors Jess Way (Marlton, NJ) and Christine Mattis (Drexel Hill, PA).

Messiah (25-6, 8-0) grabbed a 3-2 lead in the last of the first, keyed by Jaclyn Merkel's two-run single. The margin grew to 5-2 in the fifth on RBI singles from Nicole Blantz and Ashley Lehman.

Freshman Carissa Harris (Douglassville, PA) had two hits for Widener and kept Messiah at bay by yielding just two runs and four hits over 4 1/3 relief innings. Mattis (7-5) gave up five runs and seven hits over 1 2/3 innings.

Lehman closed 3-for-3 and Merkel added two hits. Sara Dietrich struck out seven, allowing two runs – one earned – and three hits over seven innings for the Falcons.

Widener in game two took a 2-1 lead in the fourth when junior Shelby Mackintosh (Lumberton, NJ) smacked a two-run homer for her fourth long ball of the season and seventh career.

Messiah tied it at 2-2 in the fourth on a sacrifice fly from Krista Ammon and took the lead for good in the fifth on an error after Sarah Seneca's bunt scored Amanda Fife.

Mackintosh had two of Widener's five hits. Delran, NJ sophomore Jackie Korang (8-7) gave up three runs – two earned – and eight hits over six innings.

Stephanie Schell went 3-for-3 for the Falcons. Mallory Rutledge permitted two runs and five hits over 5 1/3 innings before Dietrich fired 1 2/3 hitless frames for the save.

Widener plays its next five doubleheaders at home, beginning Tuesday against Cabrini at 5:00 pm. It also is the squad's “Strike Out Cancer Night” with all proceeds benefitting the Wister Institute Melanoma Research Center.

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