MANSFIELD – Mansfield dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker in nine innings, but rallied to take game two 5-4 and split a PSAC Central doubleheader against Lock Haven on Sunday at Helen Lutes Field.
 
In game one, Mansfield (15-8, 5-3 PSAC Central) got a run on the board in the second inning in what proved to be a fast-paced pitcher's duel between Arianna Young and Bekah Slattery. Rachel Sterner led-off the bottom of the second with a double and moved to third on a bunt single. Kayla Hahn drove in Sterner to put the Mounties ahead 1-0.
 
Both pitchers kept opposing batters at bay with Mansfield recording the only hit over the next three innings.
 
In the top of the sixth, Lock Haven (14-14, 5-3 PSAC Central) got a runner aboard with an error before a Morgan Garlock single tied the game at 1-1.
 
Mansfield set up a walk-off opportunity in the bottom of the seventh with two outs and bases loaded, but Slatterly ended the threat and forced extra innings. Madison Mathes drove in the eventual game-winning run in the top of the ninth.
 
Slattery struck out seven and scattered five hits to move to 8-7 on the season. Young allowed just six hits and one earned run but took just her fourth loss of the year.
 
Sterner went 3-4 at the plate with a run scored to lead the Mounties offensively.
 
Game two saw three scoreless innings before Lock Haven pushed across the first run of the game in the top of the fourth.
 
The Mountaineers responded in the bottom of the inning with Melanie Taylor drawing a lead-off walk before Lesley Fritz put a pair of runners in scoring position with a double in the gap. Hahn drove in a run then Nikki Watkins, the pitch runner, scored on an error to take the lead. Alli McGovern plated Casey Pearce to give the Mountaineers a 3-1 advantage.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Sterner plated a pair of insurance runs with her single into centerfield to score Laura Lawson and Koryn Wickwire and make it a 5-1 ballgame.
 
Those two runs would prove to be critical for Mansfield as the Eagles rallied in the bottom of the seventh by scoring four runs to close their deficit to 5-4. The Mountaineers held of the late charge to earn the victory.
 
Sierra Storm picked up her fifth win of the season and Connor Decker came on in relief in the seventh to record her second save.
 
Mansfield and Lock Haven are in the thick of the PSAC playoff push with both teams currently tied for second in the Central division. They are two games back of Bloomsburg who tops the Central with a 7-1 mark.
 
Mansfield takes a day off before hosting Mercyhurst in a PSAC divisional crossover at Lutes Field on Tuesday.