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GRANTHAM, Pa. - Kerri Datres' walk-off sacrifice fly broke a scoreless tie and propelled Lebanon Valley past Widener, 1-0, in their opening game of the Commonwealth Conference Softball Championship on Friday.

The Dutchmen now head into game #3 of the tournament against top seed Messiah, an 8-0 winner in six innings over Arcadia in the day's opening game.

The game started after a two-and-a-half-hour rain delay, and was halted for about 10 minutes in the top of the fifth as rain picked up again.

Despite not striking out a batter, Val Malizzia (13-4) threw the shutout, scattering five hits and making some fine defensive stops to get out of a couple of jams. Kim Dougherty (10-8) dueled all the way with her counterpart, allowing four hits and striking out two.

LVC loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh after Kristen Palmerio's lead-off double, moving her over with a sac bunt by Laura Snyder before Chelsea Kehr's single and Chelsea Artz's walk. That set up Datres, who hit a ball to right deep enough to score Palmerio without a play at the plate.

The scoreline was not for a lack of chances; both teams left the bases loaded in the course of the game, with LVC stranding three in the fourth and Widener doing the same in the fifth after the rain delay.