Smithfield, R.I. (April 17, 2016)—Marian Ruf tossed a two-hit shutout to lead Mount St. Mary's to a split of a Northeast Conference doubleheader at Bryant on Sunday afternoon.  The Mount won game two, 3-0, after falling 5-1 in the opening game.

Game 1: Bryant 5, Mount St. Mary's 1

Lindsay Heinze had a pair of hits in the Mount's 5-1 loss to Bryant in the opening game of the twinbill.  Bryant jumped out to a 5-0 lead en route to the victory.

Hayley Bottino's two-run double in the bottom of the first and her RBI double in the third gave the Bulldogs (6-27, 5-3 NEC) a 3-0 advantage.  Single runs in the fourth and fifth innings pushed the advantage to five.

The Mount (11-27, 3-5) got on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth inning.  Jessica Greenewald singled and Rachel Heinze was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second.  Lindsay Heinze followed with a single to third, but Greenewald was caught in a rundown for the second out of the inning.  Holly Buckel came through with a two-out single to center to make the score 5-1.

Sam Lichtner started for the Mount, allowing three runs in 2.1 innings.  Katie Olson allowed two unearned runs in 3.2 innings of relief.

Game 2:  Mount St. Mary's 3, Bryant 0

Ruf tossed a two-hitter to lead the Mount to a 3-0 win in game two.  Shea McFarland and Marisa Mayes each had two hits in the victory.

The Mount took the lead in the top of the third inning.  McFarland and Mayes each singled with two outs to put runners on first and third.  McFarland then scampered home on a passed ball to put the Mountaineers on top, 1-0.

Mount St. Mary's added a pair of insurance runs in the top seventh inning.  Ruf doubled down the left field line, and scored on the play on an error by the Bryant left fielder.  Emilee Kirk followed with a double to center, and a McFarland sacrifice bunt moved Kirk to third.  Mayes then singled to right field to plate Kirk to push the lead to 3-0.

Ruf struck out three in the complete-game victory for the Mountainers.

The Mount returns to action on Wednesday, April 20, with a doubleheader at George Mason.