Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 RALEIGH, N.C. – The Lock Haven University softball team (1-1) opened the 2014 season today (Saturday, Feb. 22) by splitting a pair of games at the Shaw University Challenge in Raleigh, North Carolina.
 
LHU took down Chowan (0-7), 3-2 in the first game of the day, but the Lady Eagles fell to nationally-ranked Columbus State (11-4), 12-4 (5 innings) in game two.
 
Chowan jumped on Lock Haven early, plating a run in the top of the first. Still trailing, 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth, LHU scored its first two runs of the season. The Lady Eagles added a third run in the fifth and held on for the win.
 
Erica Pooler (Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte) was 2-for-2 with a RBI and rookie Michelle Holweger (Landsdale, Pa./North Penn) was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
 
Pitcher Jessie Probst (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Daulphin) went the distance on the way to the win. She struck out five, allowed just five hits, walked one and gave up one earned run in seven innings of work.
 
After a lengthy delay, Lock Haven and CSU squared off.
 
The Lady Eagles jumped on the Cougars early, taking a 3-0 lead in the top half of the first. Leading the quick start was freshman McKenna Garlock (Three Springs, Pa./Southern Huntingdon), who hit her first career home run. The two-run shot to deep right-center put LHU up 2-0.
 
One batter later, Jodi Weaknecht (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown) drove in a run to make it 3-0.
 
Columbus State tacked on five runs in the bottom of the second and added three runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings. The Cougars finished with 12 runs on 15 hits and CSU pitcher Taylor Turner recorded seven strikeouts.
 
The Lady Eagles return to play tomorrow (Sunday, Feb. 23) at the Shaw University Softball Challenge with games against Claflin (9 a.m.) and Le Moyne (1 p.m. UPDATED TIME).
 
Chowan HTML Box Score
 
Columbus State HTML Box Score
 
Game Notes:
Columbus State has been nationally-ranked all season … This week they were just outside the top-25, but received votes in the NFCA poll … PSAC softball returns to two divisions (East & West) in 2014 because of the July additions of Seton Hill and Pitt-Johnstown to the conference … For the first time ever Lock Haven will play as part of the Eastern Division … The Lady Eagles were picked fifth in the PSAC East Preseason Coaches' Poll … Chelsea Edwards and Taylor Magee are returning All-PSAC selections.