READING, Pa. – Five runs in the first inning and another five in the third helped propel the Albright softball team to an 11-3 win in game two of a MAC Commonwealth doubleheader against Widener after a 7-3 loss in game one at the Albright College Softball Field on Sunday.
With the split, the Lions earn their first win of the 2022 season and move to 1-13 overall and 1-3 in conference. Meanwhile, the Pride open up conference action 1-1 and 12-6 overall.
GAME ONE (7 inn.)
A strong fifth inning for Widener led them to a 7-3 victory over Albright in game one. The Lions opened up the scoring in the bottom of the first with two runs on three hits.
Kathryn Baptiste got on base following a single and moved to second behind a
Jadelyn Van Winkle single. Both Baptiste and Van Winkle moved to second on a passed ball. Chell singled to bring home both Van Winkle and Baptiste and give the Lions an early 2-0 advantage.
The Lions kept the Pride scoreless until the top of the fifth when they tallied six runs on just two hits to pull ahead 6-2. Albright got within three in the bottom half of the fifth as Melahn walked to get on base and stole second. Melahn then moved to third on a ground out and circled home on a Van Winkle single. However, Widener was able to solidify the 7-3 win in game one with a final run in the top of the seventh.
Melahn (0-1) received the loss on the pitching mound in game one despite 4.1 strong innings pitched and 23 batters faced. Van Winkle led Albright's offense with three hits and one RBI. Chell added two hits and two RBIs.
GAME TWO (5 inn.)
Albright used 11 hits to roll past Widener 11-3 in game two. The Lions jumped out to an early lead in the bottom half of the opening frame as Melahn doubled to lead off and successfully stole third. Baptiste singled through the left side to bring Melahn home and earn the RBI. Van Winkle followed suit and singled through that same gap in the defense to move Baptiste to second. Chell added a single to load the bases. Heckman fired the Lions up with an inside the park homer and brought home all three runners to take an early 5-0 lead. Widener answered with one run on one hit and one error in the top of the second to get on the board.
Melahn smashed another double to left field to lead off in the bottom of the second and moved to third on a Baptiste single. Chell hit a sacrificial fly to bring Melahn home and extend the Lions lead to 6-1. Albright shut down Widener in the top of the third with a quick defensive inning. Heckman then led off with a single to center field in the bottom half of the third.
Heather Pomante walked to get on base and Costello loaded the bases with a single. All three runners advanced on a passed ball as Heckman circled home.
Jordan Melson kept the bases loaded with a walk. Melahn took her opportunity with loaded bases to smash a triple and bring all three runners home. Baptiste then sacrificed as Melahn reached home to give Albright a commanding 11-1 advantage. Widener added two more runs behind three hits in the top of the fourth in an attempt to chip away at their deficit, but Albright shut down the Pride in the fifth to claim the 11-3 MAC Commonwealth victory in game two.
Laura Costello (1-6) earned the win on the pitching mound in game two after pitching the full five innings and facing 27 batters. Melahn carried the Lions offense in game two with three hits on three at bats, three RBI, and three runs. Baptiste, Chell, and Heckman all added two hits.
The Lions will return to action on Wednesday at 3 p.m. as they travel to Penn State Schuylkill for a non-conference doubleheader.
