LHU Softball falls to Millersville in slugfest

MILLERSVILLE – The Lock Haven softball team (6-16, 2-8 PSAC East) had a season-best day on offense, but fell twice on the road at Millersville (14-11, 5-3 PSAC East), 16-13 and 8-4, in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division doubleheader on Friday afternoon (March 29).

Despite the outcome, Lock Haven found a huge spark offensively as it racked up 28 hits on the way to 27 runs on the afternoon.

Keiva Middleton (Willow Street, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) notched her first home run of her career, while Sydney Arrigale (Blackwood, N.J./Highland Regional) also homered. Five different Bald Eagles drove in multiple runs.

Game 1 Recap: Millersville 16, Lock Haven 13

The opening game was an offensive slugfest that featured a combined 29 runs, 35 hits, four ties and five lead changes,

Millersville jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after the first inning, but the Bald Eagles responded in a big way by scoring six runs during their half of the second to take a 6-4 lead.

Middleton started the rally by sending a solo shot over the center field wall for her first career homer. Maci Brodzina (Warriors Mark, Pa./Tyrone), Bella Schmitt (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) and Riley McClellan (Granville Summit, Pa./Troy) also drove in runs in the inning.

The Marauders countered with one run in the second before putting up a four-spot in the third to regain the lead, 9-6.

Lock Haven matched that effort in the top of the fourth, by scoring four runs on as many hits to go back on top, 10-9.

Schmitt and McClellan drove in their second runs of the contest, while Haley Lestician (Lawrenceville, N.J./Lawrence) and Hailey Irwin (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) also picked up RBIs.

However, Millersville erupted for 11 runs in the third and fourth inning, highlighted by a seven-run bottom of the fourth.

Trailing 16-10 with three innings to go, the Bald Eagles rallied for three more runs- – highlighted by a two-run blast by Arrigale, but the deficit ultimately proved to be too much.

Six different Bald Eagles recorded multiple hits, while Schmitt, McClellan and Arrigale all drove in a pair of runs.

Arrigale and Middleton both homered for the first time this season, while Bronzina and Schmitt added doubles.

Game 2 Recap: Millersville 8, Lock Haven 4

In the nightcap, both offenses continued to shine as they each belted out 12 hits, but the Marauders took advantage of four Lock Haven mishaps to pull out an 8-4 victory.

Lock Haven pushed across solo runs during four different at-bats, but the Marauders score three runs in the second, two in the fifth, before putting the game away with another three-spot in the sixth.

Good led the charge for Lock Haven as she finished 4-for-4 with three runs scored and a double.

Summer Peters (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) and Ally Raub (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter Strasburg) each added two hits and an RBI, while Schmitt recorded her second double on the day.

NEXT UP:

The Bald Eagles remain on the road and travel to Shepherd tomorrow afternoon (Saturday, March 30) for a PSAC East doubleheader, starting at 11 a.m.