MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Lock Haven University softball team (2-4) closed a very busy 2020 opening weekend with a Sunday (Feb. 16) split today, thanks to a 6-2 victory over Goldey-Beacom. LHU opened the day with a 6-5 loss to rival Kutztown, despite a strong late-inning rally.
 
After today's action, Lock Haven is 2-4 overall.
 
One big highlight of the weekend for LHU was the long ball as the Bald Eagles closed opening weekend with six home runs.
 
Lock Haven had two homers in Game 1 today vs. Kutztown, including a grand slam.
 
Yesterday (Sat, Feb. 15), Lock Haven split, earning the first win of the 2020 season, thanks to a 6-3 victory over Southern Connecticut State. In Game 2 yesterday, LHU fell to Seton Hill 7-5. The Bald Eagles opened the season Friday with a pair of losses, falling to West Virginia State and No. 17 Saint Anselm.
 
Game 1 vs. Kutztown: L, 6-5
Playing as the visitors and trailing 6-0 after five innings, the Bald Eagles did all they could to rally, but longtime conference-rival Kutztown hung on for the narrow 6-5 victory. Sydney Arrigale (Blackwood, N.J./Highland Regional) hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth and Rachel Gricoski's (Frackville, Pa./North Schuylkill) grand slam in the top of the seventh made it a one run game as KU held on to the 6-5 lead, which proved to be the eventual final despite the Lock Haven bats heating up late.
 
It marked Lock Haven's third straight two home run game.
 
LHU scored its five runs on eight hits and Kutztown plated six runs on nine total hits.
 
Mikayla Ruppert (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) was 2 for 3 at the plate with a run scored. It was her second multiple hit game of the weekend.
 
Starting pitcher Madalyn Dydynski (Nichols, N.Y./Tioga Central) struck out four.
 
Game 2 vs. Goldey-Beacom: W, 6-2
Lock Haven closed a busy six-game weekend with a 6-2 win over GBC.
 
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Lock Haven – playing as the home team – scored two runs to break open the scoreless contest. Lock Haven busted out for four more runs in the bottom of the sixth and to take a commanding lead.
 
Jada Schellhammer (Tamaqua, Pa./Tamaqua) picked up the win after scattering six hits and striking out three.
 
The bats came alive and LHU's six runs came off 13 hits.
 
Ruppert went 3 for 4 with three RBIs. Through six games, she's hitting .444 and she's had multiple hit games in two straight outings and three of the last four. Over the six-game span, she had three doubles and four total RBIs.
 
Arrigale, Casey Carpenter (Spring Brook, Pa./North Pocono), Chloe Kennedy (Elkton, Md./Caravel Academy) and Stefanie O'Grady (Milford, Pa./Delaware Valley) all had two hits apiece in the win.
 
Up next:
The Bald Eagles are scheduled to play at doubleheader at Millersville University on Wednesday, March 4 (2:30/4:30 p.m.).