MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – Behind an offensive explosion in game two, the Lock Haven University (12-15, 3-7 PSAC) softball team ended its seven-game skid with a resounding victory to earn a Saturday afternoon split in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Division action at Millersville University (18-16, 6-2 PSAC).

Millersville belted three home runs to pull away to a 9-1 victory in six innings in the opener before the Bald Eagles returned the favor in a 5-1 victory in the nightcap.

Game 1: L, 9-1

Millersville tallied runs in each of the opening three innings and belted a trio home runs along the way to a 9-1 victory in the opener.

The Marauders silenced the Lock Haven bats while tallying seven runs in three innings to run out to an early 7-0 lead.

Following a scoreless set of innings in the fourth and fifth, the Bald Eagles got on the board in the sixth. Amanda Criss (Bel Air, Md./Bel Air) opened the inning with a single down the left-field line before the Bald Eagles made the most of a pair of Millersville miscues to load the bases. Rianna Trexler (Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte) drew a bases-loaded walk to push Criss home as LHU trimmed the deficit to 7-1.

However, the Bald Eagles left the sacks full in the sixth and allowed a pair of Millersville runs in the bottom of the frame as the host Marauders secured a 9-1 victory in game one.

Criss led the Lock Haven lineup with a 2-for-2 effort in a pinch hitting role.

Madison Waltman (Turbotville, Pa./Warrior Run) picked up the loss after allowing four runs on five hits over 1 1/3 innings of action.

Four Marauders had multi-hit games in the opener and Alex Schaefer secured the victory in the circle, allowing one run on five hits.

Game 2: W, 5-1

Lock Haven recovered in a big way in game two, securing a 5-1 victory to earn a doubleheader split over the division-leading Marauders.

The Bald Eagles wasted little time in getting on the board in the nightcap. Delaney Good (Mifflinburg, Pa./Mifflinburg) led the game off with an infield single and was pushed to third base on a sacrifice bunt to put a Lock Haven runner in scoring position. Sydney Arrigale (Blackwood, N.J./Highland Regional) lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, plating Good in the process to push the Bald Eagles out to a 1-0 lead.

Millersville responded in the bottom of the first with a run of its own, but the rest of the game went all Lock Haven's way.

Both teams came up scoreless in the second and third before the Bald Eagles took the lead for good in the fourth.

Bella Schmitt (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) belted a one-out double to the gap in center field and scored two batters later when Riley McClellan (Granville Summit, Pa./Troy) singled to right field to put the Bald Eagles up by a 2-1 tally.

Following a scoreless fifth inning, LHU blew the game wide open in the sixth. Schmitt once again roped a double to center field to put a runner in scoring position with two away. The Dillsburg, Pa. native scored on the ensuing at-bat on a Criss infield single to extend the LHU advantage to 3-1.

Lock Haven's two-out rally continued with back-to-back singles from McClellan and Morgan Karasek (Bangor, Pa./Bangor) with Karasek's bunt single scoring Criss to push the Bald Eagles out to a 4-1 lead. LHU wrapped up the three-run inning by capitalizing on another Millersville miscue to score McClellan and notch a 5-1 lead.

Game two starter Jada Schellhammer (Tamaqua, Pa./Tamaqua) silenced the Marauders in the sixth and seventh as the Bald Eagles earned a 5-1 victory.

Schmitt, Criss and McClellan each led the Lock Haven lineup with two-hit outings. Schmitt scored a pair of runs and belted two doubles, while Criss and McClellan plated a run each to help secure the victory.

Schellhammer allowed one run on seven hits in a complete game effort. The Tamaqua, Pa. native fanned four batters and needed a mere 69 pitches to earn her second win of the year.

Up Next:
The Bald Eagles are back in action on Monday, April 18 when they host Goldey-Beacom in a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch in Monday's opener with the Lightning is set for 2:30 p.m.