CHESTER, Pa. (Apr. 24, 2016) – Sophomore Katie Rabuck (Hegins, Pa.) registered six strikeouts and won her seventh game to remain unbeaten in the circle this spring as the Widener University softball team was able to salvage a split against Lycoming in a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon. The Warriors won the first contest, 1-0, and the Pride took game two by a 3-1 score. Widener also clinched a Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth postseason berth for the third straight season.
 
The Pride got going early in the nightcap, plating one run in each of the first two innings. Senior Alie Alkins (Aston, Pa.) clubbed a two-out single, stole second and then came home on a double by sophomore Katie Sterling to the gap in left center to put the hosts on the board. Then after sophomore Taylor Allen (Northeast, Md.) loaded the bases by reaching on an infield single, junior Bree VanReenen (Elkton, Md.) crossed the plate one frame later on a hit by classmate Ally Horvath (Chalfont, Pa.) to double the team's lead at 2-0.
 
With Rabuck in control and not allowing a hit through four frames, Widener tacked on another run in the top of the fourth to go ahead by a 3-0 score. Batting with the bases loaded and only one out, Alkins reached on a fielder's choice by hitting the ball to the left side. Shortstop Elisa Novak elected to get the closest out by tossing the ball to Ashley Burger over at third, allowing Allen to score in the process.
 
Lycoming (20-19, MAC Commonwealth 4-12), however, did not go away easily and got life when Chelsey Poorman belted a leadoff triple in the top of the sixth. The senior came home on a sacrifice fly to put the Warriors on the board, but Rabuck was able to avoid any further trouble the rest of the way. With one out and a runner on first, the sophomore hurler most notably got out of the seventh by winning a lengthy at-bat against Dominique Thomas and catching the right fielder looking at strike three before inducing a popup to Alkins at short that ended the game.
 
Rabuck improved to a perfect 7-0 this spring and in her collegiate career for Widener by going the distance in the circle. She struck out six while issuing only one walk and allowed just one run to cap a successful week in which she won three games and picked up a save in four appearances. The sophomore also yielded just two earned runs in 16 innings of work during the busy stretch. Lycoming's Kristi Weaver took the loss and fell to 9-9 after giving up three runs, which were all earned, and eight hits in six innings.
 
Junior Alexis Schengrund (Hillsborough, N.J.) was dominant for the Pride in the opener, striking out the first seven hitters she faced and retiring the first 11 who stepped to the plate. But despite facing a full count with two outs, opposing pitcher Rachael Shady helped herself out by doubling to right center and breaking up the perfect game to that point. Heather Secord then blooped a single to right to plate the only run of the game, as Widener's offense was completely held in check for just the first time this season.
 
Lycoming's Shady, who also caught a rocket off the bat of Rabuck and turned a double play to end the game, struck out four Pride hitters and allowed just three hits to earn the shutout victory. Schengrund suffered the tough-luck loss for Widener despite recording 12 strikeouts, allowing just two hits and issuing only one walk.
 
Widener (27-7, MAC Commonwealth 9-5), which sits in the driver's seat for the second seed for the league tournament, resumes action when it visits Neumann for a twinbill on Wednesday, Apr. 27 at 3:30 p.m.