WILSON, N.C. – The Lock Haven University baseball team (4-4) split a doubleheader with California University of Pennsylvania (5-3) on Friday evening, falling in game one 4-3 before edging out the Vulcans 7-6 in game two as both games ended in walk-offs.

GAME 1:
The Vulcans struck first, crossing two on an error in the bottom of the first to take a 2-0 lead on the Bald Eagles. After three scoreless innings, Lock Haven notched three runs in the top of the fifth to erase the deficit and take a 3-2 lead.

Colby Hiddemen (Honey Brook, Pa./Twin Valley) tied it up for LHU in the fifth, smacking a single to bring home Jake Mastillo (Moscow, Pa./North Pocono) and Reagan Lawlor (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township), who had both moved in to scoring position on a double from Mastillo. Lawlor had been walked in the previous at bat. Another walk from the Vulcans pitching staff moved Hiddemen to third before a double from Justin Lichtenwalner (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield) scored Hiddemen and gave the Bald Eagles the lead.

The Vulcans knocked home a run of their own in the fifth, pushing the two teams to a 3-3 deadlock as they headed in to the sixth. The Vulcans were able to hold off the Lock Haven offense for the ensuing two innings, eventually crossing home plate in the bottom of the seventh to earn the 4-3 walk-off win.

Hiddemen went 1-4 with a run and two RBI, while Mastillo and Lichtenwalner both went 2-3 with a walk. Lichtenwalner added one RBI.

Scott Leitholf (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) had a stellar outing, giving up just two hits and no earned runs while walking four and striking out nine across 6.0 innings. Sophomore David Keller (Oreland, Pa./Christopher Dock Mennonite) earned the loss.

GAME 2:
Lawlor kicked the scoring off in game two, smashing his first home run of the season to put the Bald Eagles up 1-0 in the bottom of the first. The lead would hold for the second, but an offensive burst from Cal U in the top of the third put the Vulcans up 4-1.
 
The Bald Eagles were far from done, as they would record three runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth to knot the game at four. Lichtenwalner led off the inning with a walk, advancing to second on a wild pitch before Quin Ambeault (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle Antrim (Frostburg)) knocked a single to put runners on the corners. Cameron Kutchey (Smithsburg, Md./Smithsburg) earned yet another walk in the next at bat to load the bases for the Bald Eagles.

A sacrifice fly from Joey Lowen (Pittsburgh/Mount Lebanon (Onondaga CC)) brought home Lichtenwalner to make it 4-2 as the Bald Eagles began to chip away at the lead. It wasn't long before the bases were loaded with LHU runners again, as Lawlor reached on the Vulcans third walk of the inning. A pitching change wasn't enough to stop the Bald Eagles bats, as Mastillo knocked a single in the next at bat to bring home Kutchey and Ambeault to tie the game at four.

The Vulcans added another in the top of the seventh, but once again Lock Haven clawed back and tied the game. Hiddemen led off the seventh with a single, and would eventually score from first on a double by Lichtenwalner to make it 5-5 and force the game in to extra innings.

Each team would once again add one in the eighth as the stalemate continued. After the Vulcans went up 6-5 in the top of the inning, the Bald Eagles came back to even it at six on a single from Mastillo that brought home Gavin Troutman (Oley Valley, Pa./Catholic Oley Valley), who had advanced to second on a wild pitch after earning a base on balls.

Tristin Lockett (Mifflin County, Pa./Mifflin County) shut the Vulcans down in the top of the ninth and the Bald Eagles headed to the later half of the inning looking for the win. After Lichtenwalner was walked, Kutchey singled to put runners on first and second. Lowen stepped to the plate, smacking a single up the middle to bring home Lichtenwalner and give LHU the 7-6 walk-off victory.

Mastillo led the way for Lock Haven in game two, going 2-5 with three RBI. The walk-off hero Lowen went 1-3 with two RBI while Lawlor went 2-4 with a run and an RBI. Lichtenwalner went 1-2 with two runs, an RBI, and three walks.

Starter Avery Eddy (Hughesville, Pa./Hughesville) pitched 4.0 innings, giving up four runs on three hits while walking four and striking out six. Lockett earned the win, giving up one run and one walk while striking out four across 2.1 innings of work.

UP NEXT: The Bald Eagles are back in action tomorrow for a pair of matchups with the Mercyhurst Lakers and the Ohio Dominican Panthers. Lock Haven will take on the Lakers at 11 a.m. before facing the Panthers at 2 p.m.