ERIE, Pa. – The Edinboro softball needed extra innings to seal a victory in the day's first contest, but they had no problems putting the Lakers away in the nightcap as they swept local PSAC West rival Mercyhurst in Saturday's doubleheader. With the sweep, the Fighting Scots improved to 11-8 overall and 3-1 in the Western Division while the Lakers fell to 8-18-1 overall and 2-4 in conference play.
The Fighting Scots are scheduled to make their long-awaited home debut tomorrow afternoon, hosting another local PSAC West rival in Gannon. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
Game One – Edinboro 9, Mercyhurst 8 (Eight Innings)
The opening contest of the day had no shortage of drama as it took extra innings to decide a winner. The two teams traded runs in the first three innings with the Fighting Scots taking a 4-2 lead after three. Edinboro got on the board in the top of the first to fire the first shot.
Brooke Callaghan stole second after drawing a walk and came around to score on an error by the shortstop to put the Fighting Scots up early.
In the top of the third,
Danna Heh led off with a single and advanced to second on a throwing error before
Theresa Fleckenstein dropped down a bunt single to put runners on the corner.
Emily Osterberg pinch ran for Fleckenstein and was able to steal second. Callaghan ripped a double to score Heh from third, setting up a
Claire Johnston sacrifice fly to score Osterberg. Callaghan swiped third and came around to score on an error by the second baseman to push the lead to 4-2.
The Fighting Scots made it 5-2 in the very next inning after
Victoria Allocco singled and stole second before scoring on an RBI by
Lauren Gierlak.
Mercyhurst scored three of their own in the bottom of the fourth to knot it up at 5-5 before Edinboro once again took the lead in the top of the next inning on RBI's from
Heather Tighe and
Jessica Hyland. The Lakers answered right back with two runs of their own in the home half of the fifth to draw the game to a tie again.
Edinboro regained the lead again in the top of the sixth on a Callaghan RBI, but not to be outdone, the Lakers added a run of their own in the bottom half inning to tie it up again.
After a scoreless seventh, the game shifted to extra innings with Fleckenstein delivering the clutch game-winning hit. With two outs and a runner on first, the senior doubled to right center to give Edinboro the lead and they shut the door on the Lakers in the bottom of the eighth to win.
Kalet Lenart (4-1) picked up the win for the Fighting Scots, pitching 4.1 innings in relief of starter
Carley Nasca. Lenart allowed seven hits and three runs with a pair of strikeouts.
Heh finished the contest 3-for-5 and a pair of runs. Callaghan was 2-for-3 with a pair of walks and RBIs. Fleckenstein finished 2-for-4 with her lone RBI representing the biggest of the game.
Sarah Eschelman (1-5) took the loss for the Lakers, giving up two runs on five hits in 3.1 innings work.
Game Two – Edinboro 7, Mercyhurst 1
The opening contest brought the drama and the nightcap provided the fireworks as Edinboro made sure they didn't need extra innings to seal the victory.
After a pair of scoreless innings, the Fighting Scots broke the 0-0 tie on a Fleckenstein two-run double to take a 2-0 lead.
Two innings later, the Fighting Scots exploded for five runs to take a 7-1 lead. Following a Hyland leadoff single, Allocco's first career homer jump started the scoring. Back-to-back singles from Heh and Fleckenstein set up a Callaghan three-run jack to give the Fighting Scots the winning score.
The Fighting Scots received another strong outing from
Amanda Metz (4-1) as she picked up her second complete game victory of the season. The sophomore gave up just a lone run on nine hits and fanned a batter.
Heh finished the contest 4-for-4 with a pair of runs. Allocco and Fleckenstein both finished the game 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs with Allocco recording her first career home run. Callaghan was 1-for-4, but she made her one hit count with the three-run homer.
Anna Cochis (2-7) took the loss for the Lakers, giving up seven runs on nine hits in 4.1 innings pitched.
