Game One Box
Game Two Box

The Albright softball team was neck and neck with Elizabethtown most of Saturday afternoon in a key Commonwealth Conference game. But late-innings proved to be the difference as the Blue Jays swept Albright 3-1, 5-3 at the Nest.

In game 1, ace Stephanie Romano pitched a solid game, allowing just three earned runs on five hits in a complete game loss. Her counterpart Julie Sebastian was better as she pitched seven innings of one run baseball, allowing eight hits and striking out six. She did not walk a batter.

First baseman Natalie Carlucci opened the scoring with a first-inning RBI double that scored left fielder Miriah Wilson to give Albright an early 1-0 lead.

But Kaylee Werner knotted up the game with an RBI single of her own after an Albright error put the runner in scoring position. The game remained tied until the decisive sixth inning when Werner struck again. This time with runners on second and third, Werner ripped a two-out single into center field that scored Elly McCarthy and Lindsay Cooper.

Those runs proved to be the difference in game one; Carlucci finished 2-for-3 with an RBI.

The nightcap was another close game with stand-up pitching that saw the Lions mount a comeback that ran out of outs.

Etown center fielder Becky Becher opened up the scoring with a 2-RBI single in the bottom of the second to put the Blue Jays up 2-0. Albright immediately chipped away at the lead as Kiersten Gilfoy scored Brandy Lagomarsino to cut the Blue Jay lead in half.

Albright was at it again in their at-bat in the 4th as second baseman Nikki Schwenk singled to tie the game at two apiece.

The Etown offense could not be kept in check, however, as they added three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Becher spearheaded the three-run outburst, lacing a triple to left field that scored two to put the hosts ahead for good.

The Lions added one more run on a fielder's choice in the sixth, but could not muster any more offense.

GIlfoy was 3-for-7 for the day with one RBI. Albright pitcher Melissa Alimonti lasted 3 2/3 ininngs, allowing five earned runs on seven hits, while walking two and striking out one.

The Lions continue their season on the road with a doubleheader against Misericordia University. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.