LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – It was closer than anticipated, but the Lock Haven University softball team (23-5, 8-0 PSAC West) swept a double-header with Clarion University (1-18, 0-7 PSAC West) 3-1 and 1-0 today (April 8) at Lawrence Field. The Lady Eagle defense was the driving force behind their two victories today.

In game one, the Golden Eagles took the lead in the third on a two-out RBI single. The lead was short lived, however, as LHU would overtake Clarion with two runs in the bottom half.

When an error put sophomore third baseman Stephanie Hallowell (Eagleville, Pa./Methacton) on first base with one out, she promptly stole second. Junior shortstop Courtney Hughes (Schwenksville,Pa./Souderton) then followed with an RBI double off the base of the left-center fence. After a single by Heather Johnson (Williamsport , Pa./Williamsport), sophomore Amanda Sheets (Hughesville, Pa./Hughesville) brought home Hughes with a sacrifice fly for the 2-1 lead.

The Lady Eagles added an insurance run in the fourth on a Lynn Spiezio (Trooper, Pa./Methacton) RBI single.

LHU thwarted an excellent Clarion opportunity in the top of the fifth, as the Golden Eagles had the bases loaded with one out. Hallowell snagged a sharply-hit grounder at third, firing home for one and catcher Janet Paterson (Frederick, Md./Walkersville) then gunned down the runner at first to finish the inning with a double play.

Junior Shona M. Guevara (Chino Hills, Calif./Humboldt State University) threw a complete game, allowing just one run on seven hits, improving to 12-3 on the season. Clarion’s Dana Hartings went all six innings in the loss.

Pitching continued to be the forte for both teams in game two, as the bats were scoreless heading into the bottom of the sixth. Johnson came up with one out and smacked a solo shot onto the batting cage in left center, giving LHU the eventual 1-0 win.

The fifth inning was once again unkind to Clarion, as this time they loaded the bases with no outs. LHU starter Jeanette Middlestead (Coatesville, Pa./La Salle University) got a strikeout for out number one. Bethany Burns then hit a low line drive to right field. Junior Ashley Barber (Rockford, Md./Richard Montgomery) made the shoestring grab on the run, firing a strike to Paterson at the plate to nab the tagging runner for out number three.

Middlestead (9-1) got the complete-game win, fanning five batters, while Hartings pitched all six innings of this game as well for Clarion, falling to 1-14.