ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Albright Lions softball team bounced back to split its non-conference doubleheader against Muhlenberg on Friday afternoon as they won 4-2 in the second game after falling 3-1 in the first game.
 
The split moves the Lions overall record to 12-13 overall, while the Muhls of the Centennial Conference record now stands at 10-18 after the spilt.
 
The Lions jumped on the board early as they tallied a run in the first inning to take the initial 1-0 lead. Sophomores Jessica Rodriguez and Abigail Lord each began the inning by reaching on errors to put runners on first and second. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners over, and junior Stephanie Pomante hit a single through the right side to score Rodriguez.  However, the lead was short-lived as the Muhls responded with back-to-back doubles to tie the game at one in the bottom of the first inning. Muhlenberg then took the lead for good in the bottom of the second on a successful double steal of home and second base following a double and single. Albright tried to respond in the top of the third as they got singles from Lord and sophomore Camille Sears to put runners on first and second with one out. The Lions kept the inning alive after avoiding a near double play that got Sears out at second, but eventually could not get any runs across.  Albright had its last big opportunity to tie the game in the top of the sixth after putting runners on first and second with two outs, but a groundout in the next at-bat ended the threat. Muhlenberg got a key insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on a RBI double to make it 3-1, and then shut down any chance for the Lions to come back in the top of the seventh to preserve the win.
 
Senior Armida Roman was the only Lion to tally multiple hits as she went 2-of-3 from the plate, while Pomante picked up the lone RBI. Senior pitcher Riley Gerenda suffered the loss after allowing two earned runs on four hits in five innings, while striking out one batter. Freshman Lynsie Grant relieved Gerenda and allowed one earned run on four hits in one inning of work. Muhls pitcher Sophie Chong earned the complete game win after allowing one unearned run on six hits, while striking out and walking one.
 
In game two, the Lions once again scored the first run of the game in the first inning to take the early 1-0 lead. Junior Jordan Chell led the game off with a bunt single, and would advance to third on a fielding error. Chell then came around to score on a wild pitch in the next at-bat. Albright added to its lead in the top of the third when Pomante came through with two outs on two-run single to make it 3-0. Chell drew a walk and stole second base to begin the threat, and then advanced to third on a fielding error which put Lord on base. Back-to-back singles started a threat for Muhlenberg in the bottom of the fourth that they would take advantage of to cut the Lions lead down to 3-2. After the runners advanced on a ground out, the first run scored on a groundout that turned into a fielding error before the next run came across on a sacrifice fly. The Muhls then had an opportunity to score again in the bottom of the fifth with runners on first and second with one out, but the Lions escaped the threat with a pair of force outs at third base. Albright got an insurance run of its own in the top of the seventh on a RBI triple from freshman Morgan Thayer after classmate Allison Fleming led the inning off with a double. Muhlenberg put two runners on with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but a double play ended the game that was started by senior third baseman Regina Milburn.
 
Freshman Nora Harrison went 2-of-3 from the plate to lead the Lions in hits, while Chell scored two runs in the win. Sears earned the complete game win after allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits with one strikeout. Muhls pitcher Nicole Bergamo suffered the loss after allowing three unearned runs on three hits in four innings, while striking out two batters.
 
Albright will return to action tomorrow, April 21^st as they will travel to Hood for a pivotal MAC Commonwealth doubleheader at 1 p.m.