FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Lock Haven stages two late inning rallies to sweep Mansfield in PSAC Central doubleheader

Game One Boxscore
Game Two Boxscore

LOCK HAVEN – Lock Haven staged two late inning rallies, twice overcoming late three- run Mansfield leads , to sweep a PSAC Central doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at Lock Haven.

Lock Haven won the opener 9-8 in eight innings and scored four runs in the final at-bat to edge Mansfield 5-4 in the nightcap.

In the opener, Mansfield scored six runs over the first four innings to take a 6-0 lead going into the bottom of the fourth.

The Mountaineers got one run in the second on an RBI single by Kaitlyn Harris before adding two more in the third including a leadoff home run by Kate Pratt.

Mansfield got three runs in the fourth with all of them coming on a three-run home run by Nicole Yost, her second of the season and school-record 20th of her career.

Lock Haven got its first two runs of the game in the bottom of the inning on a leadoff home run by Alicia Cacciotti and run scoring double by Kelsey Mullins.

Mansfield increased its lead to 7-2 with a run in the top of the sixth before Lock Haven closed to 7-4 with two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Lock Haven trailed by three going into the bottom of the seventh but scored three runs on a hit and three walks to tie the game at 7-7 and send it into extra innings.

Yost led off the top of the eighth with a single and moved to third on a single by Stephanie Simmeth. Yost scored a batter later on a Lock Haven field error to give Mansfield a 8-7 lead.

In the bottom of the innings, Favazza led off with a single to center and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. A pop up gave Lock Haven two outs before a Mansfield throwing error led to Favazza scoring the tying run. Alicia Cacciotti then singled in the winning run.

Kate Pratt started on the mound for Mansfield and went 3.2 innings before being relieved by Caitlin Klobosits. Freshman Liz Pieniazek, who pitched the last 1.1 innings was charged with the loss.

Yost went 2-4 with a home run and three RBI while Janelle Antes and Simmeth each had two hits.
Cacciotti went 2-3 with a home run and two RBI for Lock Haven.

In the nightcap, Mansfield jumped off to a 1-0 when Nicole Yost singled in Antes who had singled to open the game.

Mansfield increase its lead to 4-0 with three runs in the four inning. The Mountaineer loaded the bases on a leadoff single by Yost before Erin Carroll reached on a fielder's choice and Cindy Lauer bunted for a base hit to load the bases with none out.

Lock Haven's Nicole Smith then got the two next Mansfield batters to strike out before Kaitlin Kramer doubled to left center to drive in Yost and Carroll. Antes reached on a fielding error and Lauer scored to give Mansfield a 4-0 lead.

Lock Haven reached Mansfield starter Melissa Baer for a run in the fifth when Bridgette Clarke doubled with two outs and was driven in on a RBI single by Brittany Pataky.

In the bottom of the sixth, Lock Haven scored four runs, all coming with two outs including two runs on a single by Clarke along with what would prove to be a game-winning triple by Pataky.

Mansfield tried to rally in the top of the seventh, loading the bases , but couldn't push across a score.

Baer went the distance to take the loss for Mansfield. The senior gave up 10 hits and struck out four in six innings of work to fall to 2-3 on the season. Yost and Harris each had two hits while Kramer was 1-3 with a double and two RBI.

Nicole Smith went the first six innings, allowing seven hits and striking out four to earn the win. Sarah Morse got the save by pitching the seventh.

Mansfield falls to 7-8 overall and 0-4 in PSAC Central play while Lock Haven improves to 18-7 and 4-2 in the PSAC Central.

Mansfield travels to nationally ranked Bloomsburg Friday and Kutztown on Saturday