MANSFIELD – Mansfield softball played Lock Haven to a 6-6 tie that was called due to darkness in game two of a Senior Day doubleheader at Helen Lutes Field on Monday.
 
Mansfield rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh, but came up just short in a 5-4 final in game one.
 
Monday's games marked the regular season finale for the Mounties who will open PSAC Tournament play on Wednesday, May 1 in Quakertown, Pa. With today's result, Mansfield receives the #3 seed for the Central Division and will take on West #1 seed Gannon on Wednesday at Noon in the opening round.
 
Prior to the game, seniors Brooke Roys, Leah McGovern, and Arianna Young were honored as part of the Mounties' Senior Day ceremony.
 
Game 1
In the bottom of the first inning, Alli McGovern drew a one-out walk and moved into scoring position at second base on a sac bunt. Mansfield would not be able to capitalize as Lock Haven starting pitcher Bekah Slattery ended the threat.
 
The Bald Eagles opened the second inning with a single before Rachel Gricoski hit a two-run homer to left center.
 
Devin Jones drew a one-out walk in the third and Alli McGovern put runners on the corners with a single through the left side, but once again, the Mounties were turned aside without any runs.
 
LHU added another run in the fifth inning and two more in the seventh to lead 5-0.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Shaelyn Marx walked with one out before Joelle Snyder hit a two-out double to the gap to put a pair in scoring position. Alli McGovern walked to load the bases, setting up Alex Hein for a clutch double to left center to clear the bases and bring in three Mansfield runs. Lacey O'Donnell followed with her double in the gap to score Hein and cut the Eagles' lead to 5-4. However, the rally would come up just short as Lock Haven held on for the win to secure the #2 seed in the Central.
 
Slattery got the complete game win, allowing four earned runs and five walks with eight strikeouts. Young pitched a valiant 7.0 innings for Mansfield in her final appearance at Lutes Field.
 
Game 2
Alli McGovern got aboard with a walk in the bottom of the first then O'Donnell singled to put two on. Snyder came through with an RBI single into center to life the Mounties to an early 1-0 lead.
 
Mansfield dialed up more offense in the second inning starting with Hannah Breitigan reaching on a lead-off single down the left field line before Alli McGovern and O'Donnell juiced the bases with back-to-back, two-out singles. Snyder came through again with a single to score a pair of runs, but was able to reach third and clear the base paths due to an outfield error to give Mansfield the 4-0 advantage.
 
Lock Haven got on the board in the fourth when Gricoski hit her second two-run shot of the day to trail 4-2.
 
Abbey Woodard hit an RBI single in the fourth and Alli McGovern did the same in the fifth to increase the Mansfield lead to 6-2.
 
Mansfield's lead was undone in the top of the seventh when Casey Carpenter hit a two-out grand slam to left field to tie the game at 6-6. Mansfield could not answer in the bottom half of the frame, but the game was called due to darkness and ended in a tie.
 
Alexis Easling went 7.0 innings with six strikeouts in the circle.
 
Snyder led the offense, going 3-for-4 at the dish with four RBIs and a run scored.
 
Mansfield's 11 wins in the Central division are the most conference victories since winning 15 in 2014. The Mounties earn their first PSAC playoff berth in five seasons after punching back-to-back tickets to playoffs in 2013 and 2014.