RAF LAKENHEATH, England — The Lakenheath Lancers, winners of three of the five European Division I softball championships in DODDS-Europe history, pushed across four runs in the top of the final inning Saturday to down the defending European Division I champion Ramstein Lady Royals 16-14 and move into sole possession of first place in the D-I standings.

In an unusually high-scoring matchup between team aces, Amanda Hood surrendered 11 hits but came up with the victory that moved the Lancers to 7-1 in the league. All-Europe ace Jenn Morton, who gave up 13 hits and was undone by nine errors, took the loss for Ramstein (6-2).

Ashley Lavierre went 4-for-5 for Lakenheath, which also got a 3-for-5 outing from Lauren Thompson.

Victoria Apodaca went 4-for-5 for Ramstein, which defeated Lakenheath on Friday 15-1 on a one-hitter by Morton. Hood took the loss and Thompson managed the lone hit.

Ramstein next travels to Würzburg for a doubleheader on May 15. Lakenheath plays at Kaiserslautern next Saturday, where a sweep would clinch the conference championship.

Lancers, Royals sweep Wiesbaden

RAF LAKENHEATH, England — In between games against each other, Lakenheath and Ramstein made short work of the Wiesbaden Warriors on Friday and Saturday.

Lakenheath prevailed 18-1 in four innings on Friday and 20-5 in three innings on Saturday, while Ramstein romped 18-2 on Friday and 15-3 on Saturday.

On Friday, Amanda Hood fanned seven Warriors and went 4-for-4 at the plate. She repeated her batting feat Saturday, and teammate Morgan Parkerson went 4-for-4, as Shawnalee Bradley picked up the victory for the Lancers.

Ramstein’s Victoria Apodaca and Candi Coats each picked up victories against Wiesbaden (4-6, 2-4 in D-I).

In other weekend softball games:

Lions rise to top in Division II

BRUNSSUM, Netherlands — Aubri West picked up two victories Friday as the AFNORTH Lady Lions swept the Mannheim Lady Bison 22-7 and 21-7 and claimed sole possession of first place in the Division II softball race at 5-1.

West, who was 4-for-4 at the plate in the opener with three doubles, held the Lady Bison to four hits, striking out four in the first game. She came back to toss a three-hitter, striking out five, in the nightcap and was 2-for-3 at the plate.

Freshman went 4-for-4 for AFNORTH in the second game. Ashley Melanson added a bases-loaded triple.

Rhonda Hester went 2-for-2 in the second game for Mannheim (1-7, 0-4 D-II).

After a non-conference doubleheader next Saturday at Heidelberg, AFNORTH will travel to Patch for a title showdown on May 15. Mannheim plays at Patch this Saturday and hosts Hanau in its regular-season finale on May 15.

Bitburg, Patch split

BITBURG AIR BASE, Germany — Patch’s All-Europe pitcher Lauren Sanchez limited Bitburg’s Lady Barons to four hits in Saturday’s opening game, but Bitburg cashed in eight walks by the Patch ace to claim a 7-4 victory.

The loss was the first in league play this season for the Lady Panthers, but Patch (3-1 D-II) regrouped behind newcomer Kasye Lalau for an 8-4 victory in the nightcap to earn a split with the four-time defending European D-2 champs.

Senior shortstop Ashley Gardner doubled and drove in two runs in the opener for Bitburg (4-2 D-II) and helped make a winner of Krystle Vasquez.

Lalau tossed a five-hitter in the nightcap.

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