Jacksonville, Fla. (February 23, 2014) – The Mount softball team took down Illinois-Chicago, 5-2, on Sunday at the Jacksonville University Softball Complex to move to 3-0 for the first time since moving to Division I in 1989. Sophomore Rachel Gavigan went 2-for-4 at the plate, including a first inning home run.

The only other time the Mount was 3-0 was during the 1988 season, which was the program's final year competing at the Division II level. The 1988 squad opened the season with six-consecutive wins.

Senior Nicole Pagano tossed another gem, picking up her second complete game in two days with nine strikeouts, while giving up two runs on five hits. Offensively for the Mount (3-0) seven out of nine batters registered hits on the day. The Mount outhit Illinois-Chicago (2-11) by a 10-5 count.

Gavigan sparked the Mount's offense with a first-inning two-out home run that sailed over the left field fence. The solo shot was Gavigan's third career homer.

The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the fifth, when the Mount picked up another run for a 2-0 advantage. With runners on first and third, Cat Clifford reached on an error that plated Marisa Mayes, who began the inning with a single to right field.

In the top of the sixth, Illinois-Chicago knotted the score at 2-2 on an RBI double by Jacki Fletcher followed by a single from Paige Peterson down the right field line that allowed the Flames to score again.

The Mount put runners on first and second with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, setting the stage for Jessica Greenewald. The freshman delivered a single through the left side to score Lindsey Ruhle to break the tie. The next batter, Tori Belloc, came through with a double to left center to score two more runs to put the game out of reach.

The starting pitcher for Illinois-Chicago, Bridget Boyle, lasted 5.2 innings and yielded five runs on 10 hits. Fletcher and Peterson had two hits apiece for four of the Flames' five hits.

Three Mount players finished with multi-hit games with Greenewald, Gavigan and Holly Buckel all recording two hits. 

The Mount was originally scheduled to also play Bethune-Cookman later in the day, but the game was canceled due to rain.