CHAMBERSBURG, PA-Keystone hit the road on Saturday for a doubleheader against Wilson, showing steady effort at the plate and continuing to compete throughout both games.
Game One: (Wilson 11, Keystone 1)
In game one, the Giants fell 11-1, but there were still plenty of positives throughout. Keystone threatened early in the second inning, loading the bases after Briana Aponte (El Paso, Tex./Chapin) singled and both Jordan Chabreck (Lacombe, La./Lakeshore) and Aimee Lyons (Ajax, ON/Pickering) worked walks .
The Giants found that breakthrough in the third. Emily Schultz (Tunkhannock, Pa./Tunkhannock Area) reached to get things started, and after some traffic on the bases, Aponte delivered again, ripping a single to bring Schultz home for Keystone's first run of the day . Aponte was a bright spot in the lineup, finishing a perfect 2-for-2 with the RBI, while Schultz, Krista Cortazar (Throop, Pa./Mid Valley), and Shalimar Lopez Ramirez (Baltimore, Md./Perry Hall) each chipped in with hits as Keystone totaled five in the game.
Defensively, Keystone worked through a few long innings but continued to compete and make routine plays behind its pitcher. Even as Wilson added runs later on, the Giants stayed engaged and continued to battle each inning.
Game Two: (Wilson 9, Keystone 1)
In the second game, Keystone once again showed its ability to respond and put together solid offensive sequences, despite a 9-1 final. Much like the opener, the Giants found success in the third inning. Aimee Lyons (Ajax, ON/Pickering) reached after being hit by a pitch, Schultz followed with a single, and Cortazar worked a walk to load the bases . Isabella Benitez (East Windsor, N.J./Hightstown) came through in the moment, lining a single up the middle to bring Lyons home and cut into the deficit.
Schultz continued her strong day at the plate in game two, going 2-for-3, while Amaia Smith (Berlin, N.J./Overbrook) added a double as part of Keystone's four-hit effort . The Giants had runners on in multiple innings, including the fifth, where they again put traffic on the bases and looked to build momentum late.
While Wilson was able to string together timely hits, Keystone continued to show fight from start to finish. The lineup consistently worked counts, found ways to get on base, and capitalized when opportunities presented themselves.
The Giants return home for the remaining four regular season games. Keystone takes on Penn College on April 21 before rounding out the regular season against Penn State Brandywine on April 25.
