By Kenny Varner

WINGATE – Thursday, the Bald Eagles softball team found themselves in quite a thrilling contest against an up and coming Philipsburg-Osceola team.

Bald Eagle notched a run in the first but wasn’t able to get their next runs until the bottom of the fourth and fifth when they added another two late runs to add to their lead.

In the end, the Eagles’ defense was too much as they went onto the the 5-0 win.

Bald Eagle Area hurler Sierra Albright was tough in the circle finishing in double-digit strike outs posting 15 striking outs.

“We go as she (Albright)goes,” said Bald Eagle Area coach Don Lucas.

In the first inning Bald Eagle scored run number one, Eckert started off the Eagles with a single into left centerfield. She stole second and moved to third when the Mounties committed an error on a grounder by Alexa Baney.

Eckert would score on an RBI fielder’s choice hit by Sydney Thompson, she would finish her day with a game-leading 3-for-4 performance along with 2RBIs and two runs scored.

Earlier in the day, the Mounties and Eagles finished off a game that was suspended earlier in the season that would not be decided until the 15th. Bald Eagle would win that contest as well, making it two wins in less than a few hours.

“We really squared up on the ball when we needed to,” said Lucas. “The first game kind of deflated us a little bit. Anytime you’re in an international tie breaker with a person on second base, you got to get them in. You get a run and they get a run. Ava Stere is always ready for the big hit. She got a couple today and I couldn’t be happier on how we manufactured some runs.”

Albright was sailing through the line up, posting seven strikeouts in the first three innings.

In that run, Philipsburg-Osceola’s lone hit came from Alvia Bizzari. The Mounties finished with only four hits.

Philipsburg-Osceola’s Abby Vaux and Bizzari kept the game close as it went into the bottom of the fourth.

Bald Eagle added to its lead, posting another run.

Sydney Thompson singled to start things off.

Teammates Shae Housel and Alyssa King both walked, loading the bases.

Thompson scored on an infield RBI single by Kendra Uberti, upping it to a 2-0 lead.

Bald Eagle wasn’t done yet as they added a third run in the fifth.

Eckert blasted her second single into right field. She stole second and moved up to third on a Sacrifice fly by Thompson.

With a strong defense behind her, Albright continued to control the plate, keeping the Mounties off the scoreboard while adding two of their own late.

Bald Eagle will be back in action Saturday against Williamsport.