4/13/22
 
DRIFTON, Pa. – The Lackawanna College Softball team got two solid pitching performances, and contributions from up-and-down the lineup, as the Falcons swept the Penn State Hazleton Nittany Lions in a pair of victories on Wednesday afternoon at the Drifton Softball Complex. In game one, the middle of the order carried the Falcon offense, helping MacKayla Quick to her sixth win of the year, with a 10-2 win in six innings. In game two, it was the bottom of the lineup that pulled through, giving Meghan Fritz just enough run support so that she could go the full seven innings in a 7-2 win for the Falcons.  
 
The Falcons (15-12) were led by Emma McNally, who went a combined 5-for-8 with three runs and three RBIs, hitting a pair of doubles in the two games, while Catarena Sommers was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a pair of doubles, all in game two.
 
Game One Recap: Lackawanna College 10 – 2 PSU Hazleton (6 Innings)
Lackawanna College broke open a tight game with seven runs in the fifth and sixth inning, activating the sportsmanship rule and winning 10-2 in six innings on Wednesday afternoon.
 
The Falcons (14-12) scored three runs in the fifth inning of a 3-2 game, highlighted by an RBI double from MacKayla Quick, and then added four more in the sixth, with two steals of home, plus a pair of RBI singles. Madison McVicar was 3-for-3 with four runs scored, while Skylynn Gilligan was 3-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored, and Emma McNally was 4-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Quick got the win, her sixth of the year, pitching five innings and allowing two runs on five hits, while striking out seven.
 
The visiting Falcons got things started in the top of the first with some two-out magic. McVicar started it with a two-out double, and McNally brought her home with an RBI double to make it 1-0. The Falcons might have had more coming, but McNally was picked off on the base paths to end the inning. PSU Hazleton (5-10) managed to get a run back in the bottom frame, when a lead-off walk, followed by a stolen base, put a runner on second. Quick managed a pair of strikeouts, but a steal of third, followed by a wild pitch, allowed the runner home to tie the game. Quick got a third strikeout to retire the side.
 
The Falcons had a pair on in the top of the second, but couldn't do much, and the Nittany Lions did the same in the bottom half, also to no avail. Lackawanna College would break the deadlock in the top of the third, when McVicar and McNally reached with a single and double, respectively, putting runners on second and third with one out. Gilligan singled to left field, scoring McVicar to make it 2-1, Falcons, and McNally scored from third on the next batter to make it 3-1.
 
Penn State would scrape one run back in the bottom frame, after a lead-off single, followed by a successful sac bunt, put a runner on second with one out. A single to center scored the runner, cutting the Falcon lead to 3-2. Quick walked a batter on and, after an infield fly rule and a wild pitch, runners were on second and third with two outs, but Quick got her fifth strikeout of the game to end the scoring threat.
 
A quiet fourth inning for both teams gave way to the Falcons finally waking their bats up in the fifth. A one-out walk for McVicar, followed by a stolen base, put a runner on second with just the one out. McNally singled to put two runners on, and Gilligan came through with an RBI single, scoring McVicar and making it 4-2, Falcons. McNally came home on a passed ball, and Quick doubled in Gilligan, making it 6-2 Falcons, and chasing the starting pitcher from Penn State Hazleton.
 
It looked like maybe the Nittany Lions might have had an answer ready in the bottom frame, after a pair of singles sandwiched a strikeout for Quick, but Quick managed to pick off the runner at second, and induced a fly out to end the scoring threat and move the Falcons to the top of the sixth.
 
In the top half, Kira Ryan reached after getting hit by a pitch, then stole two bases to put herself on third. Stephanie Kibbe drew a walk, and then the Falcons successfully executed a double steal, with Kibbe getting second and Ryan coming home to score, making it 7-2. Savannah Glover got on-board with a walk, and a McVicar single loaded the bases. Kibbe was picked off in a rundown between third and home, but Glover managed to steal third, and then stole home to make it 8-2. McNally singled home McVicar, followed by a Gilligan single that scored McNally, making it 10-2, Falcons.
 
With the Nittany Lions with their last licks, Kibbe took the circle for Quick, and was able to pitch around an error and a double to close out the game and give the Falcons the win.
 
Game Two Recap: Lackawanna College 7 – 2 Penn State Hazleton



Lackawanna College scored three runs in the second, and managed to score four more in the latter innings to stay clear of any threat to their lead, securing a 7-2 win over Penn State Hazleton in the second game of the Wednesday doubleheader.
 
The Falcons (15-12) scored three runs in the second, courtesy of a two-RBI single from Tess Ruschman, followed by an RBI triple from Kira Ryan, then scored two runs apiece in the fifth and sixth innings to give themselves plenty of breathing space. Catarena Sommers went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two doubles, while Ruschman broke out of her slump with a 2-for-2 performance, with two RBIs and two runs scored, and Ryan was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Meghan Fritz got the win, her fourth of the year, pitching seven strong, giving up two runs on six hits with three strikeouts.
 
The Falcons went 1-2-3 in the top of the first, and the Nittany Lions did the same in the bottom frame, setting up a big second inning for Lackawanna College. Two-out magic struck again for Lackawanna, as Sommers climbed aboard with a single, followed by MacKayla Quick's double, putting runners on second and third with two away. In stepped Ruschman, who singled on a line drive to right, scoring both Sommers and Quick, making it 2-0, Falcons. Ryan came to the plate, and slapped a liner to center, scoring Ruschman and allowing Ryan to coast into third with a triple. After the top of the second, the Falcons were ahead 3-0.
 
Fritz pitched around a pair of two-out singles to get out of trouble in the bottom half of the second, and, after a 1-2-3 inning for the Falcons in the third, she had a 1-2-3 inning of her own, retiring the side in order in the bottom of the third.
 
After another empty top half for the Falcons, Penn State Hazleton (5-11) had their best chance in the bottom of the fourth inning. A lead-off single, followed by a one-out error and a single, loaded the bases for the Nittany Lions. Fritz, however, got the big stop, inducing a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning and keep the Falcons ahead at 3-0.
 
Lackawanna would capitalize in the top of the fifth, adding a pair of runs. After back-to-back singles from Ruschman and Ryan, Savannah Glover drew a one-out walk to load the bases. Madison McVicar was hit by a pitch, forcing a run home, and Emma McNally grounded out to first, allowing another run to cross, giving the Falcons a 5-0 advantage.
 
Fritz pitched around a dropped third strike, an error, and a fielder's choice to get out of the bottom of the fifth unscathed, and the Falcons pounced again in the top of the sixth. Sommers doubled to right to lead the inning off, and Jennifer Wolak followed with a single to put two on with nobody out. After a strikeout, Wolak stole second, and an error from the shortstop allowed Sommers to come home, making it 6-0, Falcons. Meghan Fritz would help herself out with a two-out single, scoring Wolak to put the Falcons ahead 7-0.
 
Penn State Hazleton would finally get on the board in the bottom of the sixth. A lead-off single, followed by a walk, put two on with nobody out. A two-RBI double made it 7-2, but Fritz recovered to get three straight outs and get the Falcons out of the inning.
 
The Falcons stranded a pair of runners in the top of the seventh, but Fritz made sure the Falcon lead was enough, pitching around an error to retire the side, securing the win for the Falcons, and the series sweep.
 
The next Falcons game is scheduled for Thursday, April 14^th, with a home doubleheader against Monroe. The games will take place at Scranton High's Softball Field, and game one is set for a 4:00pm ET start, with the second following at 6:00pm ET. Both games will be streamed live via the Lackawanna College Athletics YouTube Channel, at www.lackawannafalcons.com/YouTube.