WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (Apr. 29, 2017) – The Widener University softball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader at Lycoming by scores of 4-3 in nine innings and 5-0.
Lycoming (22-14, MAC Commonwealth 7-9) scored first in the opener when Rachael Shady homered in the bottom of the first, but Widener came right back and pushed three runs across in the third to take a 3-1 advantage. Junior
Katie Rabuck (Hegins, Pa.) drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game, and senior
Liz Antonucci (Nesconset, N.Y.) unleashed a two-run double to the power alley in left center to put the Pride ahead.
The Warriors, however, chipped away at the deficit and eventually forced extra innings when Shady went yard again to start the fifth. Another home run by Kayla Kline in the bottom of the ninth would then give the hosts the win in walk-off fashion.
In addition to providing instant offense, Lycoming's Shady picked up the victory in the circle by going the distance and allowing three runs, including two earned, while scattering six hits. She also fanned seven and walked four to improve to 12-8. Rabuck suffered the loss for Widener, which was swept in a twinbill for the first and only time this season, after giving up four hits and the winning run over four and two-thirds frames.
Lycoming's momentum from the extra-inning win in the opener carried over into the nightcap, as the Warriors plated all five of their runs in the opening frame. Kline hit an RBI double to left center to start the scoring before Liz Nace sliced an RBI single to produce the final outcome.
Widener had its first of multiple chances to slash away at the deficit by most notably placing two runners in scoring position in the top of the fifth. But after senior
Devin Coyne (Chesapeake, Va.) hit a leadoff single up the middle and junior
Taylor Allen (North East, Md.) doubled on the next play, Lycoming's Nace found a way to get out of the frame by retiring the next three batters and not allowing the ball to leave the infield. She also kept two runners on base in the seventh to allow the Warriors to complete the sweep.
Nace threw an eight-hit shutout to pick up the victory for Lycoming and improve to 6-3 on the year. She struck out four and issued just one walk. Coyne suffered the setback and dropped to 2-1 after giving up five runs, including three earned, along with six hits.
Widener (23-11, MAC Commonwealth 10-6) earned the third seed in the upcoming Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth Tournament, which will be held at Alvernia, and open postseason play when it faces second-seeded Lebanon Valley on Friday, May 5 at noon.
