Box Score

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Junior Kristy Rubino (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany) tossed eight shutout innings and the Gettysburg College offense finally lit the scoreboard in the final frame on a single by Kara Kempski (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Mendon) to earn a hard-fought 1-0 decision over Juniata College in non-conference softball action on Thursday, March 6.

Rubino and Eagle hurler Alyssa Erb each threw eight sparkling innings on the mound for their respective teams. Both pitchers tallied 10 strikeouts in the game, but Rubino was slightly better on Thursday, limiting Juniata's lineup to just three hits en route to improving to 3-0 this season. She did not allow a base runner to reach second base until the fifth and retired the side in the first, third, fourth, and sixth innings. Erb surrendered seven hits and gave up five walks, including two hits and a free pass in the deciding frame.

Gettysburg (4-2) stranded runners in each of the opening four frames, including squandering a pair of hits by junior Erin Ober (Lutherville, Md./Dulaney) in the first and third. The Bullets managed to load the bases in the sixth with one out, but Erb set the next two batters back to the dugout on strikeouts.

After seven innings of scoreless softball, the international tiebreaker rule came into effect, placing a runner on second to start the eighth frame. As the visitors, the Bullets were the first to take advantage, loading the bags with no outs. A fielder's choice eliminated the lead-off runner at home, but Kempski gave her team the lead with a run-scoring single to plate Abbe Miller (Spring City, Pa./Owen J. Roberts), who doubled to lead-off the inning. Erb came through once again for the Eagles, striking out the next two batters with the bases packed to avoid any more damage.

Juniata advanced its lead-off runner to third with a sacrifice bunt, but Rubino fanned the No. 8 hitter, Amanda Albanese, for the third time in the game and then induced a fly-out to leftfield to end the contest.

Ober and Miller each finished 2-for-4 to lead the Bullets, while Kempski reached base three times via two walks and a single.

Gettysburg wraps up its spring trip to Hilton Head on Friday, March 7, with a pair of games. First, the Bullets battled North Carolina Wesleyan at 9:30 a.m. followed by a rematch with Neumann College at 11:30 a.m.