The Misericordia University softball team dropped a heartbreaking 9-8 extra-innings decision to York College (Pa.) in game one before holding on for a 3-1 game two victory to split with the Spartans on Sunday afternoon at Anderson Field.
 
Caitlin Cromley and Kristi Seiler each had three hits and a home run to lead the Cougars in game one, while Kat LaBrie added a pair of hits. Megan Gowe went 2-2 with an RBI in the nightcap while Whitney Ellenberg was 1-3 with two RBI.
 
Jess Armillay had her second consecutive strong outing on the mound, scattering seven hits and one run over seven innings of action to earn the game two victory.
 
The Cougars jumped out to a big lead in game one, but costly errors and three home runs allowed the Spartans to rally for the victory.
 
Ellenberg drew a leadoff walk for the Cougars and, after a sac bunt moved her to second, Cromley singled down the right field line to send Ellenberg home and give MU an early 1-0 lead. A Seiler single moved Cromley to third, and Seiler then stole second to give the Cougars two runners in scoring position. Kat LaBrie hit a big two-out single to score Cromley and then stole second to set up Amanda Polaha's two-run double to put the MU on top 4-0 after one.
 
York took advantage of three MU fielding errors in the top of the second to plate two runs, but the Cougars responded in the bottom half of the inning with three of their own. Ellenberg led the inning with a double to center, and Cromley responded with a two-run home run well over the center field fence. After a Seiler's second hit of the day and a Megan Hardy walk, LaBrie hit a double to the right center fence that scored Seiler to push MU's lead to 7-2.
 
After a quick third inning, York took advantage of another Cougar error to close the deficit back to four runs, but MU answered once again by way of a Seiler solo home run to left center and took an 8-3 lead into the fifth.
 
Sarah Harris led the fifth inning with a first-pitch solo home run to center field to make it an 8-4 game through five and Aryn Johnston hit a pinch-hit, two-out solo homer in the top of the sixth to close the gap to 8-5.
 
A Cromley single was the only offense the Cougars managed in the seventh, and York continued its rally with three runs in the seventh. After a Payton hill leadoff solo home run, Sara Thacker sinlged up the middle and scored on an Alyssa Molino triple to right center. Molino would come home to tie the game one batter later on a Kayleen Bell single to left center, and Thacker took kept the Cougars off the board in the bottom of the innings to send the game into extras.
 
Using the international tiebreaker rule, York started with Cara Rubinaccio on second base. Rubinaccio moved to third on a Johnston sacrifice bunt, but Cromley was able to hold the runner at third when Harris grounded right to the mound for the second out. However, Hill came up with a timely bloop single to center field to give the Spartans a 9-8 advantage.
 
Jen Cory started on second for MU and moved to third on an Ellenberg sacrifice bunt, but that's where she would stay as the Spartans got two easy outs to hold on for the win.
 
In game two, York threatened with some two-out magic in the top of the first, loading the bases on singles by Harris and Hill and a Thacker walk. Seiler gave Armillay some help, making a big play in foul territory to get the third out.
 
York would indeed score first, as Molino hit a leadoff, first-pitch home run in the top of the second to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead. York threatened to add additional runs, but the Cougars got a big double play when Cory snagged a flyout to center field and gunned the ball to Hardy, who got the out at home plate to get the Cougars out of the inning once again.
 
MU took advantage of the added life, taking the lead for good in the bottom of the second. Hardy reached and advanced to second on a York throwing error, and Melissa Parker reached on a fielder's choice when the Spartans hesitated to make the throw to second. A Gowe double down the right field line allowed Hardy to score and left two runners in scoring position for Ellenberg, who smacked a single to right field to score both runners and give the Cougars a 3-1 advantage.
 
That would be all the offense that MU would need, as each team managed just one hit the rest of the way.
 
The Cougars will look to keep their ECAC postseason hopes alive on Tuesday when they travel to Muhlenberg for a 3:00 PM non-conference doubleheader.