Buies Creek, N.C. (February 16, 2020)—The Mount St. Mary's softball team closed out the Campbell Invitational with a pair of losses today.  The Mount fell to Bucknell, 7-4, in the opening game before losing to Howard, 12-4.

The Mountaineers (0-4) jumped out to a 3-0 lead with three runs in the top of the third against Bucknell.  Kirsten Mumma and Kaylee Stoner each singled to open the inning.  A Bucknell error allowed Mumma to score the game's first run, and Kaia Bonshock doubled home Stoner to make it 2-0.  Another Bucknell error led to the Mount's third run in the frame.

Bucknell got a run back in the bottom of the third on an Alyssa Volpe RBI triple, but the Mount answered right back with a run in the top of the fourth to make it 4-1.  Mumma  singled to open the inning, and moved to second on a throwing error.  A groundout advanced Mumma to third, and Maggie Kane's squeeze bunt brought home Mumma.

The Bison scored five times in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead.  Bucknell loaded the bases on a hit batsman and two walks.  After a strikeout, Halie Mariano singled to bring home a pair of runs to cut the Mount lead to 4-3.  Kailyn Lorberter's sacrifice fly evened the score, and Chase Knapp's triple gave Bucknell a 6-4 advantage.  Bucknell added an insurance run in the sixth on a Volpe sacrifice fly.

Mumma went 2-for-3 with two runs scored to pace the Mountaineer offense.  Avery Neuhart pitched a complete game, allowing seven runs (five earned) with a pair of strikeouts.  Bucknell pitcher Raeanne Geffert struck out 10 while allowing four runs (one earned) to pick up the victory.

In the second game of the day, the Mount fell to Howard by the score of 8-4.  The Bison scored five times in the top of the sixth to take control of the game. 

The Mount took the lead with a run in the bottom of the first.  Stoner singled and stole second ahead of Shelbee Holcomb's RBI single.  Howard evened the score in the top of the second with an unearned run.  The Bison gained the lead with two runs in the fourth and five more in the fifth to take an 8-1 advantage.  The Mount got a run back in the fifth when Maggie Kane singled and eventually came home to score on a Howard miscue.

The Mountaineers scored twice in the sixth to cut the deficit to 8-4.  Stoner reached on an error with two outs, and Kane followed with a single.  Bonshock then drove home both runners with a double to make it a four-run deficit.  Howard scored four times in the top of the seventh to seal the win.

Kane went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double and two runs scored in the loss while Bonshock was 1-for-3 with two RBI.  Amanda Berkley started, allowing eight runs (three earned) in five innings of work.

The Mount returns to action next weekend at the GWU Softball Tournament hosted by Gardner-Webb.  The Mount will play Northern Kentucky and Eastern Illinois on Saturday, Feb. 22, before playing a doubleheader with Gardner-Webb on Sunday, Feb. 23.