Dover, Del. (March 22, 2014) – The Mount softball team split a road doubleheader with Delaware State on Saturday afternoon at The Hornets Nest. The Mountaineers won game one, 2-1, before falling in the second game, 5-1.

The Mountaineers (9-14-1) did all of their scoring in the fifth inning of game one. With the score knotted at 0-0, the Mount recorded two runs to take a 2-0 lead.

 Lindsey Ruhle reached on an error to begin the inning, and Jessica Greenewald followed with a single to advance the pinch runner Rachel Heinze to second. After Megan Baker's bunt advanced both runners, Holly Buckel knocked a single to left center to plate Heinze. An error later in the frame allowed Greenewald to score from third for the Mount's second run.

Delaware State (13-7) made things interesting by making it a one-run game in the bottom of the seventh. The Hornets scored their run on a double steal that sent Nicole Gazzola to second base and allowed Chloe Oro to score from third.

DSU loaded the bases later in the seventh before Nicole Pagano worked out of the jam to preserve the victory and earn the save.

The Mount's starter, Sam Lichtner, tossed 4.2 innings without giving up a run with four strikeouts for her second victory of the season.

In game two, Delaware State sprinted out to a 3-0 lead after two innings. Sandy Hawthorne knocked a two-RBI double to right center in the first inning, and Oro followed in the second with an RBI single.

With runners on first and second in the bottom of the fifth, DSU pitcher Tara Tursellino hit a double to right center to score two more runs for a 5-0 Hornets lead.

The Mountaineers cut into the Hornets' advantage in the top of the seventh. After Cat Clifford singled to left, Katy Bobbitt, who pinch ran, took second on Rachel Gavigan's groundout. Next up, Marisa Mayes knocked a ball to right field that was misplayed by the fielder, allowing Bobbitt to round the bases and cut the Mount's deficit to 5-1. The Mount, however, failed to score the rest of the inning to take the loss.

Tursellino scattered three hits and struck out three Mount batters in the complete game win. For the Mount, Danni Cummings yielded five earned runs in 4.1 innings to take the loss. Lichtner came out of the bullpen to toss the final 1.2 innings without giving up a hit or run.

Next up, the Mount takes on UMBC on the road tomorrow at 2 p.m.