Softball drops non-conference twinbill at Goldey-Beacom

WILMINGTON, Del. (Tuesday, Feb. 25) – The Lock Haven softball team returned to action this afternoon by traveling to Goldey-Beacom for an early-season non-conference doubleheader. The Lightning earned the sweep on the day, 3-2 and 5-4 (8 innings).

Lock Haven returned to the diamond for its second trip of the season after going 2-2 at the UVA Wise Tournament on Feb. 13-14.

The Haven moves to 2-4 on the season and Goldey-Beacom improves to 6-0.

Game 1: Goldey-Beacom 3, Lock Haven 2

Lock Haven scored a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning, but Goldey-Beacom responded with what served as the game-winning run during its next at-bats to edge out the victory.

The Lightning scored a solo run in the first and second inning, but Lock Haven tied the game in the fourth when Abby Robinson plated a pair of runs with a double.

Robertson headlined the Bald Eagles’ offense with the 2-RBI double, while Maci Brodzina scored a run and also doubled. Riley Best added a single.

On the mound, Keiva Middleton (2-1) pitched all six innings and limited the Lightning to three runs.

Game 2: Goldey-Beacom 5, Lock Haven 4 (8 Innings)

In the nightcap, the Bald Eagles got their sticks going early and jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings of play.

Blaire Balestrini kicked off the rally with a leadoff double in the top of the first, before coming around to score on a fielder’s choice by Brodzina.

Balestrini extended The Haven’s lead in the top of the second with a sac fly, before Maria Fratangelo scored on a past ball to put the Bald Eagles up 3-0.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Lightning struck for three runs to even the score at 3-3.

Neither team pushed across a run in the seventh and Lock Haven struck first in extra innings when Madison Melius drove in Hailey Irwin to put the Bald Eagles on top, 4-3.

However, Goldey-Beacom answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth to walk off with the win.

Melius led the Bald Eagles’ offense with a pair of hits and an RBI. Four different Bald Eagles scored runs and Balestrini drove in a run and doubled.

On the mound, Talia Ross pitched the opening six innings before handing the ball to Robertson, who threw the final inning and 1/3. Ross allowed three runs on nine hits and Robertson was charged with two runs (one earned).

Next up for The Haven:

The Bald Eagles remain on the road and will travel to Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania to compete in the SRU Tournament on Saturday and Sunday, March 1-2. Lock Haven will take on D’Youville and Slippery Rock on Saturday at 1 & 3 p.m., with a repeat of that schedule on Sunday.