SOFTBALL: Chambersburg's Laken Myers tames State College

FAYETTEVILLE >> As the end of the regular season approaches, Chambersburg's softball team knows every game is important.

Behind a great pitching performance by Laken Myers, the Trojans kept things rolling, scratching a pair of runs across to pick up a 2-0 Mid Penn Commonwealth Division win over State College on Wednesday. It was their third straight victory.

"We told the girls that we are taking this one game at a time," Chambersburg co-coach Ted Bittinger said. "Every game is important the rest of the season, and I think we really helped ourselves in the power rankings today with this win."

And it was Myers who made sure Chambersburg (9-7, 5-6 MPC) stayed in the win column. She held State College to just three hits, walked one and struck out five to improve to 6-4 on the season.

"I was working with (catcher) Lily (Nolan) before the game, and I felt really good," Myers said. "My defense was great behind me, and the offense got me a couple runs to work with."

The Little Lions (6-8, 4-7 MPC) got a single by Abby Allen in the first inning but didn't have another batter reach base until an error in the sixth inning. Myers set down 15 straight at one point and allowed only one runner to reach third base all game.

"That was the best pitching performance we've seen all year," State College coach Mike Harper said. "Both of the pitchers were good today, but she was outstanding."

Bittinger said, "Lily called a great game, and I thought Laken's breaking ball was working really well inside and out."

And while Myers was able to dominate the Little Lions' lineup, the Trojans found a way to push a couple runs across – both with two outs.

Jess Henderson limited the Trojans to four hits, walked two and fanned four. Only one of the runs off her was earned.

In the bottom of the second, Leah Hunt drew a two-out walk, and Myers followed with a line-drive single to right-centerfield, moving Hunt to third. Sam Bender then hit a liner into leftfield to score Hunt and give Chambersburg a 1-0 lead.

Then in the fifth, Bender walked to lead off the inning, and a pop-out, error and strikeout put runners on first and second with two down. Nolan then came up and laced a sharp line drive to leftfield that scored Bender and gave the Trojans a two-run cushion.

"We got some hits when we needed them and were able to push some runs across," Bittinger said.

Harper said, "That was just a good game. We both had about the same number of hits, but they were able to take advantage when they got runners on base."

NOTES >> Tara Harmon finished 1-for-3 for the Trojans and also had a pair of standout plays at third base ... In the bottom of the sixth inning, State College's Alyssa Shedlock, who came into the game batting .570, roped a ball down the third-base line, but Harmon lunged for the ball and made a nice backhand grab to save two runs ... She finished the day with six assists and no errors.

Chambersburg 2, State College 0

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E: SC 3, Chbg 1; LOB: SC 5, Chbg 6; SAC: Allen; SB: Etter.

State College pitching

Chambersburg pitching

T: 1:30.

JV score: Chambersburg 9, State College 3. Megan Gossert finished 3-for-3 with two RBIs, and Maggie Myers and Kassidy Hunt both drove in two. Bri Boyd pitched six solid innings, finishing with four strikeouts.