MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – The Lock Haven University softball team (3-11, 3-11 PSAC East) scored a total of 20 runs on 22 hits in a dominating Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division doubleheader sweep of host Millersville University (8-6, 4-6 PSAC East) today.
Lock Haven won game one, 10-5 and the Bald Eagles completed the sweep of the Marauders with a dominating 10-2 victory in game two.
For LHU, the offense was steady throughout, but the Bald Eagles benefitted from late-game offensive surges in both outings today. Leading the way at the plate was
Casey Carpenter (Spring Brook, Pa./North Pocono) and
Jada Schellhammer (Tamaqua, Pa./Tamaqua), who provided timely game-one home runs. A number of players stood out in each game at the plate as the Lock Haven bats rallied in the stretch innings.
Over the two-game PSAC East sweep today, Lock Haven totaled 20 runs on 22 hits, scoring an identical 10 runs on 11 hits in each victory.
Not to be outdone, pitching was key in both victories, thanks to the efforts of Schellhammer,
Madison Waltman (Turboville, Pa./Warrior Run) and
Kinley Gioglio (Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg).
In game one, Lock Haven used a five-run seventh inning to break open the game. The two teams were tied 5-5 after six innings, but the late-game offensive surge from LHU proved too much for the home team as the Bald Eagles won 10-5.
Carpenter put the Bald Eagles up 2-0 in the top of the first when she hit a two-run home run to center with two outs. It marked her second home run in as many days as she continues to climb Lock Haven's all-time top-10 list for home runs.
Schellhammer also homered in game one. Her home run in the top of the sixth put LHU up 5-1 and marked Lock Haven's fifth home run in two days. The Bald Eagles homered three times yesterday in their doubleheader with Shippensburg.
Sydney Arrigale (Blackwood, N.J./Highland Regional) sparked the big seventh inning for Lock Haven with a double that drove in three runs.
Riley McClellan (Granville Summit, Pa./Troy) was 2-for-3 at the plate and scored three runs. Schellhammer went 2-for-4.
Waltman was solid in her start in the circle. Over 5 1/3 innings, she scattered three hits and struck out seven. Waltman carried a no-hitter into the fifth before getting into a bit of a jam. Gioglio came on and picked up the victory in relief.
In game two, Lock Haven led 3-2 after five, but the Bald Eagles broke open the scoring and put the game away in the sixth inning with six runs. LHU led 9-2 after six and added an insurance run in the top of the seventh as The Haven rolled to the 10-2 win.
Schellhammer went the distance in the circle, scattering five hits in the complete-game (7 inn.) win. She struck out three.
At the plate, McClellan went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI.
Summer Peters (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a double.
Mikayla Ruppert (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) went 2-for-3 with an RBI and
Stefanie O'Grady (Milford, Pa./Delaware Valley) was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
The game-one victory snapped a seven-game losing streak and the road-sweep gives Lock Haven major momentum heading into the Bald Eagles scheduled bye week.
It's certainly been a busy stretch for Lock Haven. The Bald Eagles hosted Shippensburg yesterday in a PSAC East doubleheader and today's action marked three PSAC East doubleheaders in four days for The Haven.
UP NEXT:
The Bald Eagles will head into their scheduled bye-weekend (Friday & Saturday, April 2-3) and will not return to action until Tuesday, April 6 at home vs. Millersville (2/4 p.m.).
