READING, Pa. – Junior
Sammi O'Connor fanned 10 batters and also drove in two runs leading Albright to a 3-1 game one victory over Alvernia and a split of a Commonwealth Conference doubleheader on Saturday at Angelica Park.
O'Connor pitched 7.0 innings and allowed just three hits and one run, while striking out 10 to lead the Lions to the 3-1 victory. She also was 2-for-3 with two RBI at the plate in the opener of the doubleheader.
Alvernia won game two 4-2 to earn a split on the day.
O'Connor gave Albright an early lead in the first game when she doubled in
Zoe Robertson and
Regina Milburn giving the Lions a 2-0 lead.
Alvernia responded with a run in the bottom of the third inning, but Albright countered with a run in the top of the fourth inning.
Kaela Romano led off the inning with a single to begin the Lions rally. With one out,
Armida Roman laced a double that advanced Romano to third and a fielding error permitted Romano to score and increase the Albright lead to 3-1.
O'Connor made the lead stand up as she dominated the Crusader batters over the final four innings. She allowed just two base runners and struck out five batters.
Alvernia took advantage of two Albright fielding errors to jump out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning of game two.
The Lions cut the lead to 3-2 with a pair of runs in the fourth inning.
Nikki Russo led off the frame with her first home run in an Albright uniform to trim the lead to 3-1.
With one down, Roman drilled a double to center and advanced to third on a single by
Sera Stull. Roman later came in to score when Nicole Fortktus reached on an Alvernia fielding error.
Taylor Fouracre relieved starter Brianna Fisher for Alvernia and worked a scoreless three innings to earn the save. Fisher improved to 4-5 on the year with the victory.
O'Connor was the tough-luck loser in game two as she surrendered just six hits and one earned run while striking out eight. Her record sits at 8-6 on the year with the game-one victory and the loss in game two.
O'Connor also was 2-for-3 in game two, while Stull was 2-for-2 for the Lions.
Albright is 15-10 overall and 5-9 in Commonwealth Conference play, while Alvernia is 14-12 overall and 6-8 in league play.
The Lions will conclude conference play with a doubleheader at Messiah on Tuesday (April 21) beginning at 3:30 p.m.
