STROUDSBURG, Pa. — The ESU softball team won a pair of 2-1 games against Lock Haven, splitting the season series while improving to 18-10 in the PSAC East standings.
NOTABLES
ESU got two complete games from its starting pitchers on the day, as
Sarah Davenport and
Tessa Guenette each threw one-run gems. Davenport improved to 18-8, striking out 13 Bald Eagles. Guenette pitched her sixth complete game of the season, striking out four to move to 11-4.
Katie Master was the only player between either team to record multiple RBI on the day, tallying the game-winning RBI in game one and hitting a sacrifice fly in game two.
Delaney Ridgell had a strong day at the plate as well, going 3-5 between both games and scoring the game-winning run in game one.
Game 1
Davenport kept the Lock Haven lineup her first time through, retiring the first eight batters she faced. Evelyn Osborne's two-out single was Lock Haven's first hit of the game, but she'd be left stranded after Davenport's sixth strikeout of the game.
Three straight singles to start the top of the fourth inning for the Bald Eagles created their first scoring threat of the day. Macy Brodzina, Oliva LeMeau, and Hailey Irwin swung and reached base in the first pitches of their at-bats, loading the bases with no outs. Faith Persing drove a ball into center field that gave Brodzina enough time to tag up from third and put Lock Haven on the board. Davenport limited the damage to one run after a fielder's choice got the lead runner out at home plate, then struck out Gianna Goodman to end the inning.
ESU loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning, with Ridgell singling up the middle for the Warriors' first hit. Chroniger was hit by a pitch, and Master worked a four-pitch walk, but Lock Haven would keep the Warriors off the scoreboard.
The Warriors would tie the game in the bottom of the sixth, as the same part of the lineup generated offense for ESU. Ridgell lined a double down the left field line, with
Macy Crum pinch-running for her. After Proepper got on base with a walk, Chroniger hit a fly ball to right-center field. The ball bounced off the wall, with Crum scoring from second to make it 1-1.
Now in extra innings, the Warriors came up to bat in the eighth inning with a chance to win after Davenport's 12th and 13th strikeouts of the game. Ridgell got on base with a one-out walk, and Proepper did the same right after her. After the Bald Eagles got the second out of the inning, Master hit a ball over the shortstop and in front of the left fielder, bringing Ridgell home for the walk-off win.
Game 2
The Warriors did all their damage in the fourth inning, scoring two runs to get on the board first.
Maddin Grow walked, Proepper singled, and Chroniger was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Crum pinch ran for Proepper at second base, but she and Chroniger stayed where they were as Master hit a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Grow. Crum and Chroniger both stole a base on the second pitch of the next at-bat, then a wild pitch allowed Crum to score for the insurance run.
Lock Haven finally got a run on the board against Guenette, cutting the lead in half in the top of the sixth inning. Olivia LaMeau won her at-bat with a full-count single through the left side, with Madeline Millard coming in to pinch run for her. She advanced to second base off a wild pitch, and moved to third after a sacrifice bunt. After Guenette got the second out of the inning, Madison Hardy singled to left field to make it 2-1.
Guenette stayed in the game for the seventh, opening the frame with a strikeout. Evelyn Osborne doubled to left field, but a flyout and another strikeout ended the game and secured the sweep on the day.
Up Next
Heading into the final week of the regular season, the Warriors are on the road Friday and at home on Saturday. ESU takes on the Huskies for a doubleheader at 2 p.m. on May 1 in Bloomsburg, Pa., then hosts Mansfield at 1 p.m. on May 2 for the team's Senior Day.
