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GRANTHAM, Pa. - Widener scored four runs in the eighth, then held off a three-run LVC rally as the Pride eliminated the defending champions from the Commonwealth Conference playoffs, 6-5, at Messiah College.

The Dutchmen (27-14) took a 2-1 lead on Allie Davies' home run in the sixth, but the Pride (24-17) scored the tying run in the seventh and then reeled off four runs in the extra frame.

LVC never gave up, scoring three runs in their final at bat with Katie DeJulio and Kristen Uhas knocking in the runs.

Starter Val Malizzia (13-5) went 7.1 innings and allowed six runs, two earned; Laura Snyder threw two-thirds of an inning of relief. Kim Dougherty (11-8) picked up the win for Widener.

The see-saw game had Widener take a quick 1-0 lead in the first when Rachel O'Leary smacked in Meg Phillips with a single.

Lebanon Valley responded in the bottom of the inning as DeJulio singled, advanced on an error, and scored on Davies' sacrifice fly.

The Dutchmen had a chance to break the game open in the fifth, but left the bases loaded; they finally took the lead in sixth when Davies bombed a solo shot to dead center to go up 2-1. The home run made Davies LVC's all-time career home runs leader, her seventh long ball and fifth of the season.

But the lead wouldn't last long, and O'Leary again scored Phillips with a two-out single in the seventh to send the game to extra frames, the second in two days for LVC. There, Widener wasted no time, rallying for four runs as Kelsey Shultz, Katie Mitchell, and Astyn DiNorscia hit consecutive singles, and Caitlin Callahan scored two with her base knock.

With their backs against the wall, LVC started the eighth poorly as Marisa Krause hit into a 1-6-3 double-play, but the Dutchmen rallied with two outs as Chelsea Kehr, Chelsea Artz, and Kerri Datres reached to load the bases. DeJulio then reached on an error to score one run, and Kristen Uhas roped a hit to bring two more home. Davies received her second intentional pass of the day to load the bases again, but Kristen Palmerio grounded out to second to end the game.