ANNVILLE, Pa. – The Albright Lions softball team was unable to get its offense going Saturday afternoon as they were swept by Lebanon Valley in a MAC Commonwealth doubleheader by a 10-1 final in five innings in game one, and 3-0 in game two.
 
With the losses, the Lions drop to 10-10 overall with a 4-6 record in MAC Commonwealth play. Meanwhile, the Dutchmen improve to 13-9 overall with an 8-4 record in conference play.
 
The Lions started off game one on the right foot by scoring a run in the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead. Sophomore Brooke Yerger led off the game by reaching on an error, and advanced to third on two groundouts. Yerger then came around to score after junior Stephanie Pomante reached base on an error by the Dutchmen third baseman. Lebanon Valley's offense started slow with one hit in just the first two innings, but then blew the game open with seven runs on seven hits in the bottom of the third. The first seven Dutchmen reached base on three doubles, two singles, and one walk, which led to the first six runs. Lebanon Valley then got its last run on an RBI double with two outs in the inning. The Dutchmen then put the game into the softball mercy rule with three more runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it 10-1. Lebanon Valley's first three batters hit singles before a two-run RBI double scored the last two runs. Albright loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the fifth, but a groundout ended the game.
 
Six different Lions each recorded one hit in the loss with Yerger scoring the only run of the game on an error. Senior pitcher Riley Gerenda was saddled with the loss after giving up seven earned runs on eight hits, while striking out three in three innings. Freshman Lynsie Grant pitched the fourth inning and allowed three earned runs on four hits. Dutchmen starting pitcher Maddie Abbot earned the win after pitching four innings, while allowing one unearned run on four hits, and striking out four.
 
In game two, the Lions were only able to tally two hits as they were shutout for just the second time this season. The Dutchmen tallied two runs in the top of the first inning with both coming with two outs. A throwing error kept the inning alive to advance a Dutchmen runner to third, and she would come home the next at-bat on a RBI single. Another error brought home the second LVC run in the following at-bat. The Lions got their first hit in the top of the third, but did not get the second hit until the top of the sixth. Lebanon Valley would get their final run in the bottom half of the inning on a RBI double with two outs. Albright made one last charge in the top of the seventh by putting two runners on off Dutchmen errors with just one out, but the next two batters were retired to end the game.
 
Yerger and junior Kelly Cembrale tallied the two Lions hits in game two, and Gerenda pitched six innings and allowed three unearned runs on four hits. Gerenda also struck out three and walked two in the loss. Lexi Windsor earned the win with a complete game shutout with seven strikeouts and allowing just two hits.
 
Albright will return to action on Monday, April 16^th when they will host Penn State Berks in a non-conference doubleheader for senior day at 3 p.m.