LHU Softball opens PSAC East schedule, falls twice to West Chester

LOCK HAVEN – The Lock Haven softball team fell twice to West Chester in its Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division opener, at home, on Friday (March 22) at Lawrence Field. The Bald Eagles fell 7-3 in game one and 14-6 in the nightcap.

Friday’s doubleheader vs. West Chester was the Bald Eagles home and PSAC opener and served as the program’s Morgan’s Message game in support of mental health awareness.

Lock Haven (4-10, 0-2 PSAC East) totaled 16 hits on the afternoon that led to nine runs, but the Golden Rams (14-7, 3-1 PSAC East) bats came alive in both games and their middle-inning rallies proved to be the difference.

Game 1: West Chester 7, Lock Haven 3

The Bald Eagles opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with a solo run when Hailey Irwin (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) drove in Delaney Good (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) with a single to left.

The Golden Rams threatened in the bottom half of the third when they loaded the bases, but Bald Eagle starting pitcher Faith Persing (Montgomery, Pa./Bloomsburg) worked out of the jam without allowing a run after punching out back-to-back hitters to halt the rally.

Haley Lestician (Lawrenceville, N.J./Lawrence) extended the Bald Eagles’ lead to 2-0 in the bottom half of the inning when she drove in Maci Brodzina (Warriors Mark, Pa./Tyrone) with a sac fly.

However, the Golden Rams struck for five runs during their next at bats to take their first lead of the game, 5-2.

Irwin drove in her second run of the game in the bottom of the fifth when she blasted a solo home run to left field, but WCU added two runs in the top of the sixth before closing out the victory, 7-3

Four different Bald Eagles recorded two hits, while Irwin led the way with two RBIs and a homer.

Kinley Gioglio (Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) led the pitching staff out of the bullpen as she tossed 3.1 innings, allowing two runs and striking out one.

Game 2: West Chester 14, Lock Haven 6

After two and a half scoreless innings to start game two, the Bald Eagles erupted for four runs in the bottom of the third to take a 4-0 lead.

The inning was highlighted by a bases clearing three-RBI double by Summer Peters (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) and an RBI-single by Evelyn Osborne (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg Area).

West Chester cut into the Bald Eagles lead with three runs in the top of the fourth, but Lock Haven answered with a two-spot in the bottom half to remain on top, 6-3.

The Bald Eagles recorded two hits, took advantage of a pair of Golden Rams’ errors and Lestician drove in a run during the rally.

However, West Chester scored 11 runs over the final through innings and held the Bald Eagles off the scoreboard to secure a 14-6 victory and clinch the sweep on the day.

Peters led the Bald Eagles on offense with a team-high three RBIs. Riley McClellan (Granville Summit, Pa./Troy) and Irwin both finished with two hits.

NEXT UP:

The Bald Eagles continue their busy week on Sunday (March 24) when they host Mansfield at 1 and 3 p.m. at Lawrence Field.