JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – After a weeklong break since returning from their spring trip, the Edinboro University softball team returned to action on Saturday afternoon at Pitt-Johnstown. The Fighting Scots split a doubleheader with the Lady Cats to improve to 8-7 on the season. Edinboro dropped the opening contest, 5-4, in heartbreaking fashion before rolling by the Lady Cats in the second game, 9-3.
The Fighting Scots are scheduled to return to action on Friday, March 31, in a PSAC West opening doubleheader against Seton Hill. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
Game One – Pitt-Johnstown 5, Edinboro 4
Brooke Callaghan got things rolling for the Fighting Scots in the opening inning, jacking a two-run homer to left field to give Edinboro a 2-0 lead. It took Pitt-Johnstown until the bottom of the fifth to finally bring a runner across to cut the Fighting Scots lead to 2-1.
The Fighting Scots added two more runs in the top of the sixth on RBIs from
Theresa Fleckenstein and
Heather Tighe.
Danna Heh led off the inning by reaching safely on a throwing error and advancing to second before stealing third to set up Fleckenstein's RBI bunt.
The Lady Cats rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring four runs to complete the comeback and earn the victory. Montana Mang capped off the furious rally, delivering the walk off two-run double for UPJ.
Kalet Lenart (3-1) received her first loss of the season, pitching a third of an inning and allowing one run and striking out one.
Carley Nasca started the contest, pitching six innings with nine hits, four runs and a strikeout.
Melissa Wagner (4-2) picked up the victory for the Lady Cats, throwing a complete game. Wagner gave up five hits, four runs (three earned) and striking out four.
Brooke Callaghan finished the contest 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. Fleckenstein and Tighe were both 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Game Two – Edinboro 9, Pitt-Johnstown 3
The Fighting Scots left no doubts in the second contest, exploding for 13 hits and nine runs to ensure the victory. Senior
Jessica Hyland led the charge, finishing 2-for-3 with a pair of homers and a career-high four RBIs. It was the first multi-homerun game of Hyland's career.
Callaghan once again got things started for the Fighting Scots, batting in Fleckenstein with an RBI triple to give Edinboro a quick 1-0 lead.
Brittany Allen returned the favor, batting in Callaghan on the very next at bat to push the lead to 2-0.
The Fighting Scots added a third run in the top of the third inning on a Fleckenstein solo homer to left center and increased their lead to 4-0 the very next inning on Hyland's first homerun of the contest.
Pitt-Johnstown finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run homer from Amanda O'Toole.
Tighe led off the top of the sixth with a double and
Cheyenne Bothun pinch ran for her to allow
Victoria Allocco to bat her in to give the Fighting Scots a 5-2 lead.
Edinboro saved the best for last, however, as the Fighting Scots tacked on four more runs in the top of the seventh inning to ensure a victory. Tighe brought in a run on an RBI single before Hyland's second homerun of the contest, a three-run blast gave the Fighting Scots a 9-2 lead.
Pitt-Johnstown could only muster up one final run in the bottom half of the seventh as Edinboro cruised to the victory.
Amanda Metz (3-0) threw the complete game to stay perfect on the season. She gave up nine hits and three runs (all earned) while striking out five.
Emily Moore (1-4) took the loss for UPJ, pitching 3.1 innings with seven hits and four runs (all earned).
Fleckenstein, Callaghan and Allocco each finished the contest 2-for-4 with an RBI. Tighe was 2-for-3 with an RBI while Allen was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
