SCRANTON, PA -- Harford softball split a doubleheader against Lackawanna yesterday on the road, winning the first game 5-1 before dropping the second 15-8.
The Fighting Owls (13-11, 6-4 Region 20) have won eight of their last 10 games and were riding a five-game winning streak prior to Thurday's game two loss.
Game 1: Gist Shines as Fighting Owls Soar Past Lackawanna
Harford began the doubleheader with a commanding 5-1 win over Lackawanna College, led by a standout performance from Kayla Gist (Hanover Township, Pa.). The freshman was nearly unstoppable at the plate, going 3-for-4 and finishing just a homer short of hitting for the cycle.
The Fighting Owls wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, striking early in the first inning when Eliza Lane (Dillsburg, Pa.) drew a walk and Anna Sexton (Nottingham, Pa.) ripped an RBI single to center. Gist followed up in the second inning with a run-scoring double that helped stretch Harford's lead to 4-0.
Sexton was equally impressive on the mound, going the distance with a complete game. She allowed just one run on four hits while striking out seven and walking only two.
Harford's defense backed its right-hander in the circle with a clean game, committing no errors.
The Fighting Owls racked up 11 hits, with multi-hit games from Katelyn McCullough (Elkton), who was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, and Alexis Trzeciak (North Harford) who went 2-for-4 and scored two runs. It was a well-rounded team effort that set the tone for the day.
Harford was 11-for-31 (.355) as a team at the plate. Defensively, it was their third straight game without comitting an error.
Game 2: Fighting Owls' Rally Falls Short in 15-8 Loss to Lackawanna
In game two of the doubleheader, the Fighting Owls came out hot but couldn't hold off Lackawanna's relentless offense, falling 15-8 despite an early lead.
Gist continued her strong day at the plate, launching a two-run homer to center field in the top of the first to give Harford an early edge. However, Lackawanna responded with a six-run outburst in the bottom of the second, capitalizing on key hits and timely walks to shift the momentum.
The Fighting Owls showed resilience, with Trzeciak leading the lineup with two hits from the leadoff spot and Juliet Sanchez (Edgewood) and Gist each driving in two runs. Lane displayed discipline at the plate, drawing three of the team's seven walks.
Despite the offensive efforts, the pitching struggled to contain Lackawanna's bats. Starter Brianna Lunenfeld (Harford Technical) allowed five runs in just over an inning of work, while Kaylee Pruett (Rising Sun) handled the bulk of the relief innings, surrendering 10 runs (eight earned) over four and two-thirds.
While the loss evened the day's results, the Fighting Owls' bats stayed active and showed flashes of grit. Gist's stellar day at the plate was a major highlight, capping off a performance that included four hits, four RBIs, and a home run across both games.
