Defense was a key factor as the Misericordia softball team made no errors in a 3-0 shutout of Lycoming but then allowed seven unearned runs as they dropped the nightcap 10-0.

Senior Kat Lucenti threw 12 innings after starting the first game and then coming on in relief in game two.

The big moment in game one came in the bottom of the sixth, when Nicole Hoskins opened up a tight 1-0 contest with a two-run home run to left field, scoring Hollie Sarnak. MU had taken the lead in the first when Courtney Novajosky scored on an error.

Lucenti pitched a complete-game shutout, scattering five hits over seven innings. In the top of the second, Lycoming loaded the bases with just one out, but Lucenti was able to induce a pair of ground outs to escape the jam.

Junior Nicole Wenner made a deep grab at shortstop and a long throw to first to get the second out as MU got out of the fifth inning unscathed. Lycoming put runners on second and third with two out in the top of the sixth, but Lucenti grabbed a big strikeout to end the inning.

Hoskins finished the game 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. Sarnak was 1-for-3 with a run scored.

In game two, Lycoming scored runs in the first and second to take an early 2-0 lead, and then added two more in the third.

MU stranded several great chances to score, including in the bottom of the second (bases loaded, no outs) and again in the third (runners on second and third, one out), but each time came away empty-handed.

Lycoming would turn the game into a rout with a leadoff homer in the sixth and five runs in the seventh to complete the final 10-0 scoreline.

Outfielder Jill Castaldi went 2-for-3 in the second game. Wenner and Maria Kidron were both 1-for-2.

Misericordia is now 6-4 on the season and will begin Freedom Conference play on Saturday with a home double-header against Manhattanville.