4/11/23
 
BUTLER TWP., Pa. – Lackawanna College softball didn't make it easy on itself, but the Falcons managed to earn a doubleheader sweep on the road on Tuesday afternoon, winning 5-1 in game one and coming back with six runs over the final three innings to win 9-4 in game two over Penn State Hazleton.
 
The Falcons (17-8) had eight hits in game one, but made them count, getting doubles from Skylar Borthwick (Pittston, PA) and Gwen Balavage (Avoca, PA, and big hits to score runs from Savannah Glover (Susquehanna, PA) and Emily Dickinson (Hillsboro, OR). Borthwick had an RBI single in the top of the third to break a scoreless tie, then, with the Falcons up 3-0, added another run with an RBI double in the top of the fourth. Borthwick finished 2-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored, while Glover was 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Dickinson had an RBI single in the seventh in a pinch-hit situation. Allyson Lemerise (Catonsville, MD) made it stand up, giving up one run on four hits and striking out seven in seven innings for the victory.
 
Lackawanna College had a few baserunners, but nothing really credible as a threat until the third inning. Kira Ryan (Alburtis, PA) led the inning off with a single, then stole second to immediately put the Falcons in scoring position. A one-out single from Borthwick pushed Ryan across for a 1-0 lead. Borthwick advanced to second on the throw, then got to third on a passed ball. A walk put runners on the corners with one out, and an error on the infield brought Borthwick home to make it 2-0. Later, with two outs, Glovers singled to left to score a third run and put the Falcons up 3-0 heading into the bottom frame.
 
Lemerise pitched out of trouble in the bottom of the third, getting around her own error and a fielder's choice to keep the Nittany Lions off the board. She'd get rewarded in the top of the fourth when Borthwick doubled to left with two outs to drive in Gabby Wettig (Manheim, PA) and make it 4-0, Falcons.
 
Back-to-back one-out singles gave the Lions runners on the corners, and a double-steal allowed PSU to get on the board, trailing 4-1. Lemerise got around it with a strikeout, then, after a bunt single put runners on the corners again, she got a ground out to second to end the threat.
 
Still down 4-1 in the bottom of the sixth, PSU Hazleton got a one-out double to get a baserunner in scoring position, and a subsequent walk brought the tying run to the plate with just one out. Lemerise got a fly out to center for one out, then struck out a batter looking to end the sixth and strand the runners.
 
Sophia Mandarano (Dunmore, PA) pinch hit to start the seventh, and got hit by a pitch to give the Falcons an immediate baserunner. She stole second, and was rewarded when Dickinson smacked an RBI single to right to bring her home and give the Falcons a 5-1 lead. Dickinson advanced to second on the throw in, but the Falcons couldn't capitalize, as a pair of pop ups ended the top of the seventh.
 
Lemerise wasted no time in the bottom half, getting a pair of ground outs and a line out to retire the Nittany Lions in order and secure her fourth win of the year to give the Falcons the game one triumph.
 
In game two, the Nittany Lions (8-16) held a 4-3 lead heading into the fifth inning, but the Falcons responded in the fifth with back-to-back RBI singles from Catarena Sommers (Windham, OH) and Madison McVicar (Blakely, PA), which gave the Falcons the lead back at 6-4. In the top of the sixth, that lead doubled when Sophia Mandarano (Dunmore, PA) hit a two-run homerun to left field. The Falcons added another run in the seventh on a passed ball. Tess Ruschman (Easton, PA) pitched three innings of scoreless relief, giving up three hits and striking out four batters, to help preserve the win for Lackawanna College. Mandarano was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and her pair of RBIs, while Sommers was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI, and McVicar was 2-for-3 with a run scored and a pair of RBI. Aria Reyes (Allentown, PA) got the win, pitching four innings and giving up four runs, just one earned, on seven hits.
 
Scoring started right away in the top of the first of game two, as Mandarano led off with a single and a stolen base to put the Falcons in scoring position. A one-out RBI single from Sommers made it 1-0, Falcons, and a double from McVicar had runners in scoring position with just one out. Balavage grounded to second to score one run, and Dickinson tripled to left to score another, pushing the Falcon advantage to 3-0.
 
Back-to-back singles opened the bottom of the first, but Reyes bounced back to get a pop out and a 5-3 double play to get out of the inning.
 
Neither team had much happening until PSU's bottom of the third. A pair of one-out singles gave the Nittany Lions some baserunners, and a ground out to third put two away, but advanced the runners to second and third. An unfortunate error on the Falcons infield plated a pair of runs, cutting into the Falcon lead at 3-2. Reyes got a fielder's choice to get out of trouble.
 
PSU Hazleton struck again in the fourth. A leadoff homerun tied the game, and, later, a one-out error loaded the bases. A line out put two away, but a steal attempt from all three baserunners plated one run to give the Nittany Lions a 4-3 advantage. Unfortunately, a baserunner got greedy and was thrown out between third and home to end the inning.
 
The Falcons responded in the top of the fifth, using three straight singles to load the bases with one out, and getting a fourth straight single from Sommers to drive in a run and tie things at 4-4. McVicar made it five in a row, singling to center and scoring a pair to make it 6-4, Falcons, still with one out. The Falcons had runners in scoring position after a double steal, but a pair of pop ups ended the threat.
 
Ruschman came on to relieve Reyes, and she struck out the side in order. Reyes, who switch positions with Ruschman at second and remained in the game, singled to lead off the top of the sixth, and later came home on a two-out homerun from Mandarano to left field, pushing the Falcon margin to 8-4 heading into the bottom half.
 
The Falcons added another in the top of the seventh, putting two runners on with one out and scoring on a passed ball to make it 9-4. They had two more runners on with one out, but a double play at short ended the scoring threat.
 
Back-to-back singles started the bottom of the seventh, but Ruschman got a strikeout to get one out. A ground out to third advanced the runners into scoring position but made it two outs, and Ruschman got a huge strikeout looking to close the game out and give the Falcons the doubleheader sweep for the win.
 
Lackawanna College gets back at it on Thursday, April 13th, when the Falcons travel to County College of Morris for a doubleheader in Region XIX DII play.