ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. – With the regular season coming to a close, the Albright Lions softball team split a non-conference doubleheader against Elizabethtown on a beautiful Thursday afternoon.
 
The Lions came back in the top of the seventh to win game one 3-2 before being shut out 3-0 in game two. The split moves the Lions to 14-17 overall, while the Blue Jays move to 17-13 overall.
 
Pitching ruled the majority of the first game as the game remained scoreless until the sixth inning. Leading up to the sixth, each team missed chances to open the scoring. The Blue Jays put runners on first and third in the bottom of the first before a double play ended the threat. The Lions opened the top of the fourth with back-to-back singles from juniors Corinne Garuffe and Kelly Cembrale, but a double play also would wipe out that threat. Another double play ended a first and second threat in the bottom of the fourth for the Blue Jays before the Lions stranded runners on first and second with one out in the top of the fifth. Albright finally broke through in the top of the sixth with a RBI single from sophomore Jessica Rodriguez after the Lions loaded the bases initially with one out. Rodriguez came through after the Blue Jays got a force out at home for the second out of the inning. However, the lead was short-lived as the Blue Jays broke through with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 2-1 lead on a double and sacrifice fly. The resilient Lions took the lead right back from Elizabethtown in the top of the seventh on a pinch hit two-run single from junior Stephanie Pomante as they were down to their last out. Three straight singles loaded the bases before a shallow fly out was recorded for the second out of the inning to set up Pomante's heroics. After a leadoff single to start the bottom of the seventh, sophomore pitcher Camille Sears recorded three straight outs to seal the win for the Lions.
 
Cembrale recorded a perfect 3-for-3 showing from the plate, while Garuffe, Rodriguez, and junior Stephany Courtney all went 2-of-4 from the plate. As a team, the Lions pounded out a season-high 13 hits in the win. Sears earned her team-leading eighth win of the season after allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits in the full seven innings. Blue Jay starter Alyssa Wilkinson suffered the tough loss after allowing three runs (two earned) on 13 hits.
 
The second game was not as kind to the Lions as they managed just four hits in the contest. This game also went scoreless for the first couple of frames before the Blue Jays scored all their runs in the bottom of the fourth on three hits and two errors. Albright then had its best chance to come back in the top of the fifth when they put runners on second and third with one out before a pair of infield pop ups ended the threat. Sears then roped a double with one out in the top of the sixth, but was stranded at second for the remainder of the inning. The Lions then had a runner on first in the top of the seventh before a strike out ended the game. Four different Lions each recorded one hit in the loss. Senior pitcher Riley Gerenda suffered the loss after throwing a complete game, and allowing three unearned runs on six hits with six strikeouts. Elizabethtown pitcher Amber Sergas earned the complete game shutout win after allowing four hits and struck out two batters.
 
The Lions will conclude the regular season on Saturday, April 28^th when they will travel to face Arcadia in a doubleheader at 4 p.m. where they must win both games to have a chance in making the MAC Commonwealth Tournament.