The Misericordia University softball team maintained sole possession of first place in the MAC Freedom with a split with Lycoming, Wednesday at Anderson Field.

The Cougars took the opener, 8-7, but dropped the nightcap 6-1. 

Kaitlin Redling had two hits, including a grand slam, in the opener and Bridget Doherty, Nicole Elliott and Emma Griffin all had two hits.

Alexa McHugh struck out seven over six innings to get the win Jennifer Milisits worked a scoreless seventh to earn a save.

Redling added two hits in the nightcap.

In the opener, Lycoming took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but the Cougars rallied for six runs in the second inning. 

McHugh doubled down the right field line and Griffin tripled to right center to drive in the tying run.  Zariah Alvin drew a one-out walk and stole second.  Doherty reached on an infield single to load the bases and the Cougars took a 2-1 lead on a wild pitch.  Elliott walked to re-load the bases and Redling homered to make it 6-1.

McHugh reached on an error to open the third and moved up on a wild pitch.  McHugh moved to third on Griffin's infield single and came home on Burd's sacrifice fly to center.

Doherty tripled to left center to open the fourth and scored on Elliott's infield single.

Lycoming got two runs back in the fifth and pulled within 8-7 in the sixth.

Milisits got three ground outs and worked around an error to close out the game.

In the nightcap, Lycoming scored four runs in the fifth to break a 1-1 tie.

The Cougars are 11-3 in the MAC Freedom and will conclude their league schedule at DeSales, Thursday.  Lycoming is 12-4.