SUTHERLAND, Va. (March 12, 2015) – The Edinboro softball team needed an extra inning in its first game of Thursday night, but came away with the 3-2 victory against Mansfield in the eighth inning at the Dinwiddie Complex in Sutherland, Va. Shelby Proctor delivered a two RBI double in the top of the eighth inning which proved to be the game-winner as the Fighting Scots improved to 5-2 this season. The Mounties fell to 4-2, both losses coming to Edinboro.

 

The game was quiet early on as Edinboro had the only hit of the game in the first three innings. Taylor Payne led off the fourth inning with a single to left field. Melissa Roseman came in to pinch-run for the Scots and advanced to third base two batters later when Theresa Fleckenstein singled. With runners on the corners, Jessica Hyland lined it to right field to score Roseman. Edinboro had the chance for more runs in the inning but could not capitalize on a bases loaded opportunity with two outs.

Mansfield responded in the bottom of the frame. Kaitlyn Hewitt singled to score Taylor Chidester from third to tie the game at 1-1.

The action died down over the next two innings as each team collected a hit in the fifth inning and none in the sixth inning.

The Fighting Scots were presented with a golden opportunity in the top of the seventh inning. With Alexandra Carroll on second base pinch-running for Proctor and MaryLouise Lindner on first base, Laura Crooks laid down a perfect bunt and all runners were safe. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Heather Tighe reached on a fielder's choice as Carroll was putout at home on the force out. With the bases still full, Payne popped up to the pitcher and then Haley Struebing grounded out to third base.

Kalet Lenart remained unfazed for Edinboro on the mound. The sophomore pitcher forced a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh to bring the game into extras.

Struebing started the eighth inning on second base due to the international tiebreaker rules. Brooke Callaghan led off with a sacrifice bunt to advance Struebing to third base. After Fleckenstein grounded out to the pitcher and Hyland walked, Proctor stepped to the plate with runners on the corners and two outs. The sophomore right fielder made contact on a 0-1 pitch and sent it to deep left field. Struebing touched home and Hyland made a strong turn towards home and came across the plate to give Edinboro a 3-1 lead. Lindner then grounded out to the second baseman to cap off the top of the frame.

Hannah Secord began the bottom of the eighth inning on second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Laura Lawson grounded out to Struebing for the first out. Courtney Bauder then singled to the shortstop to tighten the game to 3-2. Lenart needed just three pitches after that to finish the complete game victory for Edinboro. Amanda Goodwin advanced Bauder to second base on a sacrifice bunt and then Lenart caused Taylor Chidester to ground into a 4-3 play.

The Fighting Scots left 10 runs on base while the Mounties only left five on stranded. Edinboro outhit Mansfield 8-3 and each team committed one error.

Lenart battled with Ashley Inman as both pitchers threw all eight frames. It was Inman's first loss of the season as she fell to 3-1 while it was Lenart's first decision of the year and is now 1-0.

Proctor finished 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBI. It was the Cochranton, Pa. native's sixth career multi-RBI game and first of the season.

It was the second straight game that Hyland posted the line of 1-for-3, one run, and one RBI. The sophomore also walked once.

Crooks was the only player in the game with multiple hits. The sophomore center fielder had second career game with three hits as she finished 3-for-4.

Edinboro now awaits the finish of the Mansfield and Salem International game before taking on Salem International at the same field.