CLERMONT, Fla. – The Lock Haven University softball team opened the 2015 season today (Friday, March 6) at the NTC Spring Games and the Lady Eagles split, beating Saint Rose 3-0, before falling to Cedarville, 6-2.
 
LHU picked up key home runs in both games to help carry the offensive load. Freshman Gabrielle Henson (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) went yard on the very first bat of her collegiate career in game one vs. Saint Rose. In game two vs. Cedarville, senior Sarah Schwalm (Dauphin, Pa./Central Dauphin) hit a two-run shot, marking her first home run since her freshman season.
 
The Lady Eagles got solid outings from pitchers Jessie Probst (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) and Rachel Mouillesseaux (Endicott, N.Y./Union Endicott).
 
Game 1 (Saint Rose) Recap: W, 3-0
 
Henson's two-run homer in the top of the second inning sparked LHU to the win. With two outs, she took Renee Vaino deep to left-center.
 
Probst, who picked up the win the circle, helped her own cause and drove in a run in the third. She was 2-for-2 on at the plate.
 
Probst went the distance in the circle, allowing just six hits. She struck out one and recorded 13 ground ball outs on the way to the shutout.
 
Paige Stuppy (Jonestown, Pa./Northern Lebanon) was 2-for-3 at the plate, helping LHU to the 3-0 victory.
 
Game 2 (Cedarville) Recap: L, 6-2
 
Schwalm's two-run home run that cleared the right-centerfield fence broke open a pitcher's duel and put LHU up 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning.
 
Cedarville – however – was quick to respond and tacked on five runs in the top of the sixth inning. The Yellow Jackets added an insurance run in the seventh on the way to the 6-2 win.
 
Despite the loss, Mouillesseaux looked strong and recorded eight strikeouts. She scattered seven hits and was tagged for just one earned run.
 
Schwalm was 2-for-2 at the plate.
 
Today marked Lock Haven's first two games of the 2015 season and their first two in a 14-game swing through Florida. LHU is right back at it tomorrow (Saturday, March 7) with games vs. St. Cloud State (1 p.m.) and Minnesota State University, Mankato (5 p.m.).