Emmitsburg, Md. (March 23, 2013) -- Nicole Pagano hurled a complete game four-hit shutout and Cat Clifford knocked her team-leading sixth home run to give Mount St. Mary's a 1-0 win over Bryant in the Northeast Conference opener on Saturday at Our Lady of the Meadows Field. The Bulldogs managed a 10-3 win in the second game of the doubleheader to earn a split. 

The win in the first game gave the Mount (6-13, 1-1 NEC) a five-game winning streak, which is tied for the second longest in the program's Division I history. 

Pagano was dominant in game one, fanning 11 Bryant (5-9, 1-1 NEC) batters and striking out the side in the first and fifth innings. Yielding just four hits, Pagano allowed two runners to get past first base in the game, both in the sixth inning, in her sixth complete game this season. 

The Mount pounded 10 hits in game one with two hits from Clifford, Marisa Mayes and Erin Leddy. It was the third time that the Mountaineers have reached double-digit hits in a game in 2013. 

Bryant pitcher Brittany Hart worked her way out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning and allowed just two extra-base hits, a double and home run to Clifford, in the loss. 

The home side's momentum carried over to the second game as the Mount scored three runs in the first inning. After two walks and a single loaded the bases, Leddy recorded an RBI, followed by Liz Christiansen's single up the middle to plate Rachel Gavigan and Clifford. 

Momentum quickly swung to the Bulldogs with five runs in the top of the second. Lauren Guy walked with the bases loaded for the first run, and Kendall Corder and Aubrey Mable picked up back-to-back doubles for two RBIs apiece. 

With one run already across and three runners on in the top of the third inning, Madeline Velasquez knocked a bases-clearing double to right field for a 9-3 Bryant lead. The Bulldogs tacked on one more the following inning for a 10-3 advantage. 

The Mount threatened in the bottom of the fifth with the bases loaded, but could not get on the board the rest of the way. Bryant outhit the Mount, 8-3, in game two. 

The Mount will play another doubleheader against Fairleigh Dickinson tomorrow at noon on campus at Our Lady of the Meadows Field. 

NOTES: With 24 wins entering the season and five to her credit in 2013, Nicole Pagano is one win shy of becoming the fourth player in school history with 30 career victories.