4/16/25

SCRANTON, Pa. – Disastrous sixth innings proved to be the difference in both games of a doubleheader, as Lackawanna College fell to Monroe University in a pair of contests on a blustery, overcast, and cold Wednesday afternoon at Scranton HS softball field. Monroe took down Lackawanna by scores of 7-5 and 12-2.
 
The Falcons (18-20) were close in both games heading into the sixth inning, but each game saw the visitors plaster runs on the Lackawanna defense, turning a deficit into a lead in game one, and expanding a narrow lead into a runaway win in game two.
 
The Falcons led 4-3 after back-to-back two-run innings to start game one and held that lead into the top of the sixth inning, when it all went up in smoke.
 
Back-to-back one-out singles put runners on first and second, and a wild pitch let the two runners advance to scoring position. A double to center scored the pair to give Monroe the 5-4 advantage. An error on a throw back to the pitcher proved costly, allowing the runner to get to third and then come home to make it 6-4, Mustangs. Another error, this time with two outs, allowed a baserunner to get to third, then a single on the infield scored that runner to push it to 7-4. Lackawanna finally got out of trouble with a ground out to strand a pair of runners, but the damage was done.
 
A double from Kaislyn Currie (Gibbons, AB) got the Falcons a baserunner with one out in the bottom of the sixth, and a fielder's choice from Mia Scalese (Moscow, PA) scored Currie to cut the deficit to 7-5. An unfortunate foul out stranded a pair of runners and cut the rally short.
 
After retiring the side in order, the Falcons got a leadoff walk to start the bottom of the seventh, but Monroe (16-23) got a huge break with one out when, on a routine fielder's choice to second, the Falcons made the third out when the batter overran the bag at first and got tagged out.
 
Scalese was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Emmalee Mowery (Mechanicsburg, PA) was 1-for-2 with two runs and two walks. Jillian Heimberger (Unionville, PA) went 1-for-4 with a run scored and two RBIs. Heimberger got the loss, giving up seven runs, four earned, on ten hits.
 
As the wind howled worse and the temperature continued to falter, Monroe built a slim 3-1 lead heading into the sixth, where once again the visitors blew things open with a big inning, this time scoring six runs on five hits to take a large lead.
 
Monroe led the sixth off with three straight singles to score a run, then a two-run double made it 6-1, Mustangs. A walk, followed by a fly out, put runners in scoring position. Another walk loaded the bases, and a wild pitch let a run score to make it 7-1. A fielder's choice got the second out at home, but a two-run single scored another pair to push the Monroe lead out to 9-1 heading into the bottom half.
 
Lackawanna got a run back when Scalese tripled to right in the bottom of the sixth, but Monroe added three more in the top of the seventh to take a 12-2 lead. Lackawanna got a two-out baserunner in the seventh with a walk, but a liner right back to the pitcher ended the game and sealed the Falcons' fate.
 
The Falcons had just four hits in game two and committed four errors. Scalese was 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Mowery scored a run and drew three walks. Laniah Tasker (Chambersburg, PA) went 1-for-3 with a run. Brianna Dinice (Terryville, CT) was handed the loss, giving up 12 runs, ten earned, in seven innings, throwing nearly 150 pitches.
 
Lackawanna College has a quick turnaround, playing a doubleheader on Thursday, April 17^th on the road at Raritan Valley CC in Region XIX Division II play. First pitch is set for 3:00pm ET in Branchburg, NJ.