Daytona Beach, Fla. (February 25, 2014) – Despite another strong pitching effort by Nicole Pagano, the Mount softball team was handed a 1-0 defeat at Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday for the squad's first loss of the season. Pagano struck out eight while allowing one run on four hits in the loss.

The Mount (3-1) put runners on third base in the third and sixth innings, but failed to score on Bethune-Cookman's starting pitcher Bailey Connor, who tossed a three-hit shutout. The Wildcats (2-11) scored the game's only run on Sabrina Anguiano's two-out single in the first inning to score Kelsey Rodney.

Jessica Greenewald, Holly Buckel and Alyssa Silipino notched hits for the Mount in the game.

The Mount threatened in the third with runners on first and second with one out. Bethune-Cookman kept the Mount off the scoreboard as the Mountaineers stranded runners on second and third in the inning.

The Mount also put runners on second and third in the sixth with one out before Connor worked out of another jam to maintain the Wildcats' 1-0 lead.  

In the loss, Pagano lowered her ERA from 1.50 to 1.05 in her third complete game of the 2014 season.

Tomorrow, the Mount plays a doubleheader against Jacksonville with games scheduled for 4 and 6 p.m.