Bellefonte split a doubleheader with Hollidaysburg on Saturday, April 6, at O’Leary Fields, winning 4-0 in the first game and losing 11-10 in the second. Then Bellefonte lost at DuBois, 10-6, on Monday, April 8.
The Lady Red Raiders were the only Centre County team to play during the week of April 1. All games but the doubleheader were postponed due to the rain and flooding.
State College’s home game against Williamsport on Monday, April 8, was postponed because of the eclipse. That game is now scheduled for Sunday, April 14, at Penn State’s Beard Field at Nittany Lion Softball Park.
The first game of the doubleheader was a pitching duel between Bellefonte senior pitcher Carley Clarkson and Hollidaysburg senior hurler Maria Malone.
Clarkson tossed a three-hitter, struck out seven, walked none and threw 54 of her 71 pitches for strikes in recording a shutout. Malone struck out nine, walked none and gave up seven hits and two earned runs while throwing 76 of her 97 pitches for strikes.
The Lady Red Raiders scored single runs in the second, third, fifth and sixth innings.
Grace Novitsky went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Sadie Ripka and Jaylee Lose also knocked in runs, and both had doubles, and Maria Cotter stroked a double.
Hollidaysburg held a 7-4 lead after the first two innings in the second game as Bellefonte’s Alaina Smith and Hollidaysburg’s Mikaylah Vincent got the start in the pitching circle.
The Lady Red Raiders scored two in the third and four in the sixth while the Lady Golden Tigers added four in the fourth.
Ripka had a big game from the leadoff spot, going 3-for-5 with two home runs, three RBIs and three runs scored. Mackenzie Ellenberger went 3-for-4 with a double, while Ragan Manning had two hits. Sienna Barnhart hit a home run, while Lose doubled.
Malone went 4-for-5 against three Bellefonte pitchers with two RBIs and two runs scored. Sydney Shay had three hits, including a home run, four RBIs and two runs scored.
Against DuBois, Bellefonte’s Sienna Barnhart went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs. Cotter and Taylor Brown had two hits apiece, and Ripka doubled.
DuBois’ Lynx Lander hit two home runs and knocked in four runs off of Smith, who struck out seven, walked seven and gave up eight hits.
The 3-2 Lady Red Raiders are scheduled to host Philipsburg-Osceola on Thursday, April 11, and visit Johnstown at 12:45 p.m. on Friday, April 12.
