LHU’s Persing pitches and hits Bald Eagles to game-one victory; Softball splits with Kutztown

LOCK HAVEN – Faith Persing (Montgomery, Pa./Bloomsburg) pitched a gem and scored and drove in a run to lead the Lock Haven softball team to a 2-0 victory over Kutztown in game one of a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) at Lawrence Field on Monday afternoon (March 25). The Bald Eagles fell in game two, 12-2.

Following the PSAC East split, Lock Haven moves to 6-12 overall and 2-4 in conference play. Kutztown is now 14-9 overall and 2-2 in the East.

Monday’s doubleheader vs. Kutztown was the third twinbill in four days at home for Lock Haven, who remains in a stretch of busy games and will travel to Shippensburg tomorrow (Tuesday, March 25).

Game 1 Recap: Lock Haven 2, Kutztown

Persing (4-4) was lights out on the mound for The Haven, as she dealt a complete-game, three-hit shutout to power the Bald Eagles to a 2-0 victory. Persing struck out six hitters on her way to her fourth victory in the circle.

The Bald Eagles also used timely offense to secure the victory, as they pushed across solo runs in the third and fourth innings, giving Persing all the run support she needed on the afternoon.

In the bottom of the third, Madison Melius (Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte) laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt that forced the third baseman to rush and sail her throw into right field, allowing Persing to come around and score after leading off the inning with a double.

One inning later, Persing drove in the insurance run for Lock Haven when she singled to right field, plating Riley McClellan (Granville Summit, Pa./Troy).

Four different Bald Eagles recorded hits, while Persing notched a pair of base knocks, including a double.

Lock Haven did not commit an error.

Game 2 Recap: Kutztown 12, Lock Haven 2

In game two, Kutztown jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after scoring four runs in the top of the first.

Lock Haven cut the deficit to 4-1 in the bottom half of the inning, when Maci Brodzina (Warriors Mark, Pa./Tyrone) blasted a home run down the left field line. The homer was the second on the season for the sophomore.

Lock Haven cut the lead in half, 4-2, when Haley Lestician (Lawrenceville, N.J./Lawrence) drove in a run in the bottom of the second, but KU rallied for eight runs over the next two frames to earn the run-rule victory.

Delaney Good (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) finished with two hits and Brodzina homered to lead the Bald Eagles’ offense.

NEXT UP:

The Bald Eagles return to the diamond tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday, March 25) when they travel to Shippensburg for a PSAC East doubleheader, starting at 2 p.m.