TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bald Eagle freshman Karlee Fisher prepares to pitch in relief during a game against Bellwood-Antis earlier this season. Fisher pitched a complete game in Monday's 9-0 win over Jersey Shore.

WINGATE – Heading into Monday, Bald Eagle freshman Karlee Fisher had plenty of reason to be nervous. Not only would she be making her first varsity start from the mound, but she’d be doing so against an esteemed program in the midst of a four-game win streak in Jersey Shore.

Fortunately, she wouldn’t endure the challenge alone. Her seasoned infield and growing outfield had her back, and that helped settle her nerves and pave the way for a strong debut.

Fisher pitched a full seven innings, scattering six hits while never letting Shore’s fiery bats to crack the scoreboard. And on the offensive end, the Eagles erupted for nine runs from the second to fourth inning, removing even more pressure from their young pitcher as they cruised to a 9-0 win at home.

“To be honest, I was kind of nervous. But then I got out there, and I had my defense behind me,” said Fisher. “I was really proud of them. They really showed out today.”

“Karlee Fisher pitched a really good game, and we beat a really nice Jersey Shore team,” said Bald Eagle head coach Don Lucas on the win. “I’m just really pleased with them. They battled. They hit against two quality pitchers tonight. I was happy with all phases of the game.”

When it comes to pitching performances, it may not have been what Bald Eagle fans have grown used to, coming without the strikeout barrages of recent years. But it was certainly a gem, a great example of complementary ball that featured all hands on deck. And each time the Bulldogs got multiple runners on base, the Eagles had an answer.

In both the first and second inning, sophomore catcher Lily Harter would close out the frame with a successful pick-off, stranding three combined runners. That second inning also featured a double play led by centerfielder Casey Angellotti, which erased a leadoff double from Shore’s Sophia Wrench.

Following a third-inning retirement, the fourth and fifth saw similarly dicey situations extinguished.

In the fourth, Shore’s Lexi Frey and Sophia Wrench belted back-to-back hits before second baseman Maelee Yoder secured the frame-ending force out. Then, with two on base, one out and its top of the order batting, Fisher – aided by her outfield – managed to force back-to-back flyouts, crushing the Bulldogs’ best shot at scoring.

From there, the Bulldogs wouldn’t get another runner on base, as Bald Eagle retired in back-to-back frames to close it out.

Alongside her six scattered hits and zero allowed runs, Fisher’s only issued walk – coming in the first – was intentional. The freshman did her job swimmingly, and her teammates followed suit, as the unit as a whole held a squad that had scored eight or more runs in its previous five games scoreless.

All the while, the offense was able to produce in droves.

Between the second and fourth inning, Bald Eagle generated nine of its 11 hits as it turned a deadlocked tie into a comfortable, nine-run lead. Four Eagles logged multiple hits, six of which were of the extra-base variety.

The bottom of the order got the ball rolling, with Harlee Witherite (2-for-3) drilling a liner to right to get Harter and Angellotti home for the team’s first two runs. Two at-bats later, a two-RBI double from leadoff batter Addisyn Burns made it 4-0 after two.

With an already sizable cushion, homers from Raelee Repasky and Kendall Gavlock would put the team in striking distance of an early finish.

Repasky belted a fly ball over the left-center wall, batting Gavlock home for a two-RBI shot in the third inning. And in hitting the scoreboard in the fourth, Gavlock would produce a three-RBI homer, batting in Hayley Simpson (2-for-3, 2B) and Maelee Yoder and making it 9-0.

“Big ball. Big ball coming in,” said Repasky on what she saw on that pitch. “I just swung and tried to get base hits, and that’s what happened.”

“I just knew I had a job to do because there were two runners on, just anything you can do in that situation to put more runs on the board,” said Gavlock.

With the win, the Eagles improved to 2-2 on the season, shaking off a few shaky performances to produce their best so far. They’ll travel to Philipsburg-Osceola on Tuesday before returning home to host Penns Valley on Thursday, both Centre County contests which should keep Bald Eagle challenged through a four-game week.

“This is a big confidence boost for us,” said Lucas. “It’ll be a long week for them, but this was a good one to start it out.”

For Jersey Shore (5-2), the loss stings, halting a four-game win streak in its tracks, but head coach Chris Lorson the team can learn for it as it moves forward. In its tracks stands some tough foes, as it hosts Williamsport on Tuesday before travelled to Shikellamy and South Williamsport to close out its week.

“Some calls didn’t go our way but with that said, we didn’t play our game tonight,” said Lorson. “All I can hope as a coach is that those girls learn from it, believe and go. Don’t double-guess themselves between hitting and catching the ball.”

Bald Eagle 9, Jersey Shore 0

Jersey Shore 000 000 0 – 0 6 1

Bald Eagle 042 300 X – 9 11 1

Lynna Clark, Lexi Frey (4) and Annika Clark. Karlee Fisher and Lily Harter. W – Fisher. L – Clark.

Top Jersey Shore hitters: Sophia Wrench 2-3, 2B; Maddison Thomas 2-3; Lexi Frey 1-2, BB. Top Bald Eagle hitters: Kendall Gavlock 2-4, HR, 2B, 3 RBIS, 2 runs; Raelee Repasky 2-4, HR, 2B, 2 RBIs, run; Harley Witherite 2-3, 2 RBIs, run; Hayley Simpson 2-3, 2B, 2 runs; Addisyn Burns 1-4, 2B, 2 RBIs.

Records: Jersey Shore 5-1; Bald Eagle 2-2.