HAMPTON, Va. – The La Salle softball team (3-8) defeated the Omaha Mavericks (10-12) before falling in extra innings to Albany (4-7) on Friday at the Lady Pirate Softball Complex.
 
Game 1: La Salle 5, Omaha 4
Sophomore Jackie Heim had a career day, belting two homers and driving in four runs as the Explorers defeated the Omaha Mavericks 5-4 in the opening game of the Blue-White Classic.
 
Emma Schweigert reached on an error to lead off the game, stealing second before Heim homered to left to give the Explorers a 2-0 lead. Omaha scored in the home half of the 1^st but Heim answered with another two-run blast in the 3^rd to make it 4-1.
 
Lauren Morell drew a walk with the bases loaded later in the 3^rd  to score what would become the deciding run.
 
Reilly Gearhart (W, 2-2) tossed a complete-game, striking out five while scattering 10 hits and two walks. The Mavericks scored twice in the 7^th to make it a one-run game before the sophomore induced a double play to end the game.  
 
Game 2: Albany 5, La Salle 4 (8 innings)
The Explorers rallied with three runs in the 7^th inning to tie the game at 4-4 and force extra innings, but Albany's Kelly Spear delivered an RBI single in the 8^th to win it. Marissa Ewald plated two runs in the 7^th with a double and later scored the game-tying run on an Albany fielding error.  
 
The Great Danes took a 3-0 lead against Marlo Roadcap (L, 1-4) before Valerie Pineiro got the Explorers going with a solo homer in the top of the 5^th. Albany scratched another run across in the 5^th to push their lead back to three.
 
Roadcap was charged with three earned runs over 7.1 innings, striking out seven compared to five hits and three walks. Celeste Verdolivo (W, 4-0) pitched 8.0 innings for Albany, limiting the Explorers to six hits and a walk while collecting six strikeouts.