LHU’s Peters powers Bald Eagles to a pair of victories to kick off North Carolina trip

MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – Summer Peters (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) homered twice, including a go-ahead shot in game two to lead the Lock Haven softball team to a pair of victories in the Mount Olive Tournament on Sunday afternoon, March 3. The Bald Eagles soared past Elizabeth City State, 10-1, in game one, before taking down the host, Mount Olive, 7-5 in the nightcap.

Lock Haven bounced back in a big way to improve to 2-4 on the season. Following their games with The Haven, Elizabeth City State falls to 1-4, while Mount Olive drops to 16-5.

The Bald Eagles’offense broke out on Sunday and finished with 18 hits on their way to 17 runs.

Peters, Haley Lestician (Lawrenceville, N.J./Lawrence) and Hailey Irwin (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) all left the yard, while Delaney Good (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) notched an inside-the-park homer.

Lock Haven finished with nine extra-base hits.

Game One: Lock Haven 10, Elizabeth City State 1
In game one, Good led off the game with an inside-the-park homerun and Irwin drove in Madison Melius (Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte) to give the Bald Eagles an early 2-0 lead and The Haven never looked back.

Elizabeth City State scored its lone run in the bottom of the first to trim the lead to 2-1, but Lock Haven scored in every inning, including four runs in the fourth, on its way to the run-rule victory.

For the Bald Eagles, Peters and Lestician homered, while Lestician finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs and Peters added a triple. Bella Schmitt (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) also tripled and Ally Raub (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter Strasburg) doubled.

Keiva Middleton (Willow Street, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) earned her first victory in the circle, tossing all five innings and limiting Elizabeth City State to one run on four hits and struck out three hitters.

Game Two: Lock Haven 7, Mount Olive 5
In a thrilling game to end the day, Mount Olive opened the scoring with two runs in the first inning, before Irwin blasted a two-run homer in the top of the third to knot the game at 2-2.

Mount Olive went back up one an inning later, but Irwin and Peters drove in the equalizing runs in the top of the fifth.

However, Mount Olive rallied for two more runs in the bottom half to regain the advantage, 5-4, to set up the dramatic finish.

With one out and the Bald Eagles’ backs against the wall, Peters stepped up and sent an 0-1 pitch over the center field wall to plate three runs and lead Lock Haven to victory.

Kinley Gioglio (Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) got the start in the circle for Lock Haven and tossed 3 and 1/3 innings, allowing three runs and struck out two hitters. Faith Persing (Montgomery, Pa./Bloomsburg) picked up the victory in relief as she pitched the final 3 and 2/3 innings, allowing two runs and finished with one strikeout.

Irwin (three RBI) and Peters (four RBI) homered and Maci Brodzina (Warriors Mark, Pa./Tyrone) doubled to highlight the Bald Eagles’ offense. Good added three hits and scored a pair of runs.

NEXT UP:
The Bald Eagles are back in action tomorrow (Monday, March 4) when they travel to Barton College for a noon non-conference doubleheader.