CLARION, Pa. - The Edinboro softball team begins its first winning streak in two seasons, as the Fighting Scots shutout Clarion in back-to-back five-inning mercy rulings, 19-2, and 8-0.
The Fighting Scots improve to 5-9 overall, while Clarion falls to 0-23 this season.
Edinboro returns to action on Wednesday, March 27, in a non-conference doubleheader at Pitt-Johnstown beginning at 1:00 p.m. The doubleheader was originally scheduled for Saturday, March 23, but was delayed to due weather conditions.
Game 1: EDINBORO 19, CLARION 2 (5)
Edinboro had a day at the plate, as the Fighting Scots scored 19 runs on 18 hits against Clarion. The 19 runs rank second in program history. They are the most runs the Edinboro has scored in a contest since 1983 when Edinboro tallied 23 against Gannon.
The Fighting Scots never trailed in the opening contest, scoring a pair of runs in the first inning.
Danna Heh scored the first run of the game on
Olivia Jankowski's first of a career-high six RBIs.
Brittany Allen pushed across
Heather Barrett for a 2-0 advantage in the frame on an RBI bunt single.
In the second inning,
Roni Lipinski scored Edinboro's decisive third run. She doubled to left field, advanced to third on
Shannon Gilbert's single, and scored on
Lauren Gierlak's RBI bunt single. Edinboro ended the inning with a 7-0 advantage, scoring five runs off six hits.
Overall, Edinboro scored nine runs over the first three innings and 10 in the final two. The Fighting Scots also had five hits in the fourth.
Jankowski had a career day. She finished with a career-high six RBIs, while also hitting her second home run of the campaign. Gierlak and Barrett each tallied a career-best in runs, adding four and three, respectively.
Heh also scored three runs, while Gilbert accounted for two runs and two RBI. Lipinski scored two runs and
Abby Sallot pushed across two batters.
Carley Nasca was in the circle for the Scots. She went the distance, improving to 4-4 on the year. The senior allowed two runs off five hits, to go with three strikeouts.
Game 2: EDINBORO 8, CLARION 0 (5)
Edinboro did all of its damage in the second inning, as eight different Fighting Scots accounted for all eight runs.
Courtney Allen scored on the opening run on an error by the left fielder.
Roni Lipinski gave Edinboro a 2-0 edge, scoring on
Shannon Gilbert's RBI.
Jessica Little increased the lead to 3-0, as
Abby Sallot's RBI-single through the left side pushed her home. Sallot then scored on a fielder's choice.
Olivia Jankowski's two-run RBI single up the middle brought home Barrett and
Danna Heh. Jankowski and
Cheyenne Bothun accounted for the final runs of the afternoon. Jankowski scored on an error, while Bothun tallied a run on a passed ball for the 8-0 advantage.
Jankowski finished the day with eight RBIs. She leapfrogged four Fighting Scots, cracking the top 10 and ending the day ranking ninth in all-time RBIs with 58.
Amanda Metz picked up her first win of the year, as she pitched all five innings. She allowed two hits and walked one, while striking out six. Kira Smith took the loss, falling to 0-4 overall.
