Softball | 3/1/2018 8:19:00 PM
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Myrtle Beach, SC - The Lehman College women's softball season got underway today with the Lightning taking two of three games to start the season in Myrtle Beach, SC.
Lehman opened the season with a double header against Grove City. The Lightning took the first game 4-3 and dropped the rematch 10-2. Later in the day, Lehman battled back against SUNY Delhi and came away with a 10-8 win.
In the opener, Diamond Villegas had the ball in the circle for the Lightning. The newcomer pitched out of a one out triple to leave a runner stranded in the second but wasn't as lucky in the third as the Wolverines were able to manufacture a run. After a walk and a fielder's choice, a Grove City player doubled down the left field line to plate the first run of the game. However, a diving stab of a line drive by Maranda Diaz as she recorded an unassisted double play limited the damage to one run. The Lightning were able to score a pair of runs in the fourth as Villegas doubled to lead off the frame. After a sacrifice found herself on third with one out. Freshman Samantha Torres followed with a two bagger to center field plating Villegas. Tiffany Adames then singled up the middle to score Torres to give the Lightning a 2-1 advantage. In the fifth, Lehman was able to plate two more runs. Diaz drilled a triple over the center fielders head and later scored on a Villegas double who also crossed the plate after a Caitlin Vernon single. After a scoreless sixth, the Wolverines rallied for two in the top of the seventh but were unable to draw even.
In the rematch it was all Grove City. The Wolverines scored the first run of the afternoon in the second but the Lightning answered in the fourth to tie the game at one. In the bottom half of the frame the Wolverines exploded for four runs. Lehman got one back in the fifth but Grove City added two more in the bottom half of the inning and tacked on an additional three runs in the sixth for the final margin of victory.
In the final game of the day, Lehman took on a gamey SUNY Delhi squad. The Broncos were able to score a run in each of the first three innings to take a 3-2 lead after three. Lehman manufactured their runs in the first as Diaz drew a walk, stole second and scored on a Stephany Cruz bunt single. She ended up on second after the play as she advanced on the late throw home. Later in the inning she stole third and scored as Vernon reached safely on an error. The Broncos added two more in the top of the fourth off an inside the park home run. Freshman hurler Tiffany Adames then entered the game and shut Delhi down for more than two innings. The Lightning answered in a big way in the fourth win four runs. After a lead off ground out, Adames, Hailey Davila, and Yaidee Nieves loaded the bases on consecutive singles. Diaz then delivered a double to right center as all three runs scored. Diaz scored as Cruz reached safely on a bunt. After Adames had a 1,2,3 inning in the fifth to retire her sixth straight, Lehman added three more in the bottom of the frame. Torres led off the inning with a double and scored when Adrelina Gil reach on an error. Gil then scored when pinch hitter Genesis Paulino singled up the middle. Diaz than tripled to center field which scored Essence Walker who had come in to pinch run for Paulino. The Lightning got in a little trouble in the top of the sixth when Adames lost her controlled and walked the bases loaded. After runs scored on a walk, passed ball and a hit by pitch, Villegas came in to record the final out of the inning as she induced a ground ball to Diaz at short. The Lightning were threatening in the sixth as Villegas led off the inning with a double but the rains came and the game was called.
Lehman will take Friday off before returning to action on Saturday to face Penn State Harrisburg and Eastern Mennonite.
