Emmitsburg, Md. (April 30, 2016)--The Mount St. Mary's University softball team split a Northeast Conference doubleheader against Robert Morris at Our Lady of the Meadows Field on campus today.  Sam Lichtner's complete-game gem led the Mount to a 4-1 win in the opening game.  The Colonials came back with a 9-1 victory in game two.

Lichtner needed just 61 pitches in her complete-game victory in the Mount's 4-1 win in the opening game of the twinbill.  She scattered four hits while striking out a pair to improve to 5-12 on the season.

The Mountaineers (13-35, 4-10 NEC) started quickly with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning.  On Senior Day, a pair of seniors started the rally for the Mountaineers with Marisa Mayes leading off with a base hit to right field. Fellow senior Megan Baker followed with a sacrifice bunt to move Mayes into scoring position.  The Mount's next batter, Rachel Heinze, tapped the ball in front of the plate, and when the catcher's throw to first went to right field, Mayes scampered home with the first run of the game.  Lindsay Heinze singled and stole second base, and senior Holly Buckel then beat out an infield hit in front of the plate to load the bases.  The Mount made it 2-0 when Robert Morris shortstop Stacey Capp threw high to the plate trying to get a force out senior Rachel Gavigan's grounder.

Robert Morris got its only run of the game in the top of the second when Ashley Gerhart hit a home run to right field.

The Mountaineers added a pair of runs in the fourth when Gavigan singled, and Marian Ruf drove an 0-1 pitch over the center field fence for a two-run homer to push the Mount advantage to 4-1.

Buckel went 2-for-3 at the plate to pace the Mount offense in the game.

In the second game, Stacey Capp provided all the offense Robert Morris would need by driving in the first four runs of the game over her first three at bats.  Capp lofted a solo home run to left in the third, added a two-run single in the fourth, and an RBI single in the sixth to give RMU a 4-0 lead.

The Mount got a run back in the bottom of the sixth.  Emilee Kirk singled through the right side of the infield for the Mount's first hit of the game to lead off the inning.  After a groundouts where the Colonials got the lead runner, Rachel Heinze drove a double to the right-center field gap to plate Mayes with the Mount's lone run of the game.  Heinze was thrown out at third trying to stretch her hit to a triple to end the inning.

Robert Morris then scored five times in the top of the seventh to seal the win.

Lichtner started game two as well for the Mount, allowing three runs and six hits in four innings of work.  Katie Olson pitched the final three innings. 

The Mountaineers close out the regular season with a home doubleheader against Wagner on Saturday, May 7, at 1:00 p.m. at Our Lady of the Meadows Field.

Game Notes:  The Mount honored seniors Megan Baker, Holly Buckel, Rachel Gavigan and Marisa Mayes prior to the game...The Mount is now 8-41 all-time against Robert Morris...The Mount is now 9-5 at home this season...Heinze's RBI double in the second game gives her a team-high 37 RBI.