Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Softball
Lebanon Valley 6, Lycoming 1
Lebanon Valley 4, Lycoming 0 (8)

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Lebanon Valley clinched a Commonwealth Conference tournament berth, beating Lycoming 6-1 in their doubleheader opener before scoring four in the eighth to shut them out 4-0 in extras later in the day.

With the wins and other results from around the conference, the Dutchmen (23-4-1, 11-1 CC) ensured that they will be part of the field when they host the CC Championship tournament May 3-5, coming up with 17 combined hits and surrendering a single run over the two games.

Sam Derr struck out 10 in the opener to improve to 15-3, while Haley Neff had a superb eight-strikeout two-hitter over eight innings in the nightcap to stay undefeated at 6-0. Allie Hartman was the offensive catalyst for LVC, going 2-for-2 with two walks and three RBI in the opener, then plating the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly in the eighth of game two.

In the first game, Hartman doubled in Tessa Deardorff and Sam Derr to score two in the first, then singled Derr home in the third to make it 3-0 LVC. Janelle Poorman homered in the bottom of the inning for Lyco's lone run, but LVC scored runs again in the fourth, fifth, and seventh thanks to base hits by Deardorff, Mary Readinger, and Emily Johnson.

The nightcap turned into a pitchers' duel between Neff and Caroline Lapano, the latter of whom had to work out of several tough jams, including a bases-loaded situation in the second and runners on third in the first and sixth innings. Neff faced just three over the minimum as the game headed to extras, and the offensive support finally came as LVC loaded the bases with none out to set up Hartman's sac fly. Singles from Steffani Secola and Neff added more runs, and Neff put down the bottom of the lineup in order to close out the win.

The Dutchmen return home Wednesday to host Hood.