Softball Team Falls in Conference Opener

AURORA, N.Y. -- Lancaster Bible got on the scoreboard early in both games en route to a Saturday afternoon doubleheader pair of wins of Wells at the Wells Turf Field on April 3. The Chargers took the first game 12-1 in five innings before securing a 9-1 triumph in six innings in game two. 

Four Express players recorded hits in both games that included Olivia Maish (Palmdale, Calif.), Erin Normile (Binghamton, N.Y.), Jenna Devora (San Antonio, Tx.) and Jennifer McCumber (Albany, N.Y.).

Game One

Lancaster Bible scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back, winning its season opener 12-1 in five innings. Nicole DeKok was 2-for-4 with a double, triple and three RBI at the plate and scattered five hits and allowed no earned runs in picking up the win in the circle.

The Chargers led 8-0 after two and a half innings, taking full advantage of six hits and five Wells errors. The big blow came when Dekok drilled a double down the leftfield line to score two runs in the first. A single run in the second and three more in the third built the lead.

The Express chipped away at the lead with a run in the third with Devora's line drive single up the middle plating Maish, who led off the inning with a walk. Wells couldn't capitalize further after putting runners on second and third with no outs.

Lancaster Bible got that run back in the fourth on a run-scoring triple by DeKok and added three insurance runs in the fifth.

Devora was 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead Wells, while Maish singled and walked while scoring the lone run for the Express. Devora struck out five in hurling a complete game, surrendering just four earned runs in the loss.

In addition to a pair of hits from Devora, solo hits came from Maish, Normile and McCumber.

Game Two

Lancaster Bible pounded out 13 hits in the nightcap and scored three runs in both the first and sixth innings. DeKok was again the star of the day, going 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI, two runs scored and a complete game victory in the circle to go 2-0 on the day with just one earned run allowed in 11 innings of work.

After scoring in every inning of game one, Lancaster Bible kept up the offense with crooked numbers in each of the first two innings as part of a 5-0 lead. Wells answered in the second with Normile driving in what proved to be the only run of the game for the Express with a single to right, but Wells stranded the bases loaded.

Morgan Adams (Waverly, N.Y.) had a pair of hits and scored a run to lead Wells, while McCumber had a double among six hits for the home team. Solo hits came from Normile, Maish and Devora.

The Wells softball team next travels to Penn State Berks on Saturday, April 10.