SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The Lock Haven softball team traveled to Slippery Rock on Wednesday afternoon (March 11) for a non-conference doubleheader at the newly renovated Kasnevich Field. After a short rain delay the Bald Eagles won Game 1, 5-4 and Game 2, 8-3.
 
Game 1: Lock Haven 5, Slippery Rock 4
 
Game one featured the Bald Eagles holding off a late rally from The Rock after building a 5-0 lead.
 
Talia Ross (5-1) earned another win in the circle. Ross was dealing early, only giving up one hit and striking out seven batters through the first four innings. The Rock's bats came alive in the fifth inning and scored four runs, ending Ross's day after 4.2 innings pitched.
 
Freshman Marissa Horn was outstanding in relief. Horn inherited runners on first and second with two outs in the fifth before working out of the jam.
 
Horn worked efficiently by retiring seven out of the eight batters she faced to earn her first career save.
 
The Bald Eagles found their scoring in the top of the third from back-to-back RBI doubles from Hailey Irwin and Olivia LaMeau.
 
Lock Haven tacked on three more runs in the fourth frame after Madison Hardy hit a double, Gianna Goodman drew her second walk and Blaire Balestrini cleared the bases with a two-RBI triple. Balestrini scored on a wild pitch to build the 5-0 lead.
 
Maci Brodzina added the Bald Eagle's fifth and final hit in the fifth inning.
 
The Rock also finished with five hits and made the lone error in the game as The Haven's defense was sharp.
 
Game 2: Lock Haven 8, Slippery Rock 3
 
Lock Haven struck first in the nightcap from an RBI off the bat of Goodman in the second inning.
 
Slippery Rock responded with two runs in the third and one in the fourth to build a 3-1 lead.
The sixth inning was the turning point for the Bald Eagles. Abby Robertson and Erin Van Ness got the rally started with back-to-back singles. A Slippery Rock error allowed Robertson to score.
 
Evelyn Osborne tied the game with an RBI groundout. Goodman's sacrifice bunt scored the go-ahead run to give The Haven a 4-3 lead. LaMeau added on to the lead with an RBI double to left field.
 
Robertson and Van Ness once again ignited the Lock Haven offense in the top of the seventh frame with back-to-back doubles. Osborne drove in the final run with a sacrifice fly as Lock Haven took an 8-3 lead into the bottom half of the seventh.
 
Faith Persing (2-2) retired The Rock 1-2-3 to clinch the sweep and improve the Bald Eagles' season record to 7-5.
 
Persing was tremendous in relief. She went 4.1 innings, only surrendering one run on three hits, giving up no free passes in her credited win.
 
Keiva Middleton got the start in the circle. Middleton went 2.2 innings, giving up two runs on three hits.
 
Lock Haven's offense provided 11 hits from eight different hitters, highlighted by a 3-4 effort from Van Ness.
 
The Haven's defense finished the day error-free. Slippery Rock recorded six hits and made one error.
 
Next up:
Lock Haven softball will host its home opener on Sunday (March 15) when Jefferson comes to town for a non-conference doubleheader. The games are currently scheduled to be played at Lawrence Field at 1 and 3 p.m.