San Diego, Calif. (March 6, 2020)—The Mount St. Mary's softball team split a pair of games at the USD Tournament hosted by the University of San Diego on Friday.  The Mountaineers rebounded to knock off the host school San Diego, 5-4, after being edged by Villanova, 2-1, in the first game of the day.

GAME 1:  Villanova 2, Mount St. Mary's 1

A day after the Mountaineers posted a 1-0 victory in eight innings over Villanova, the two teams squared off in another pitcher's duel with the Wildcats prevailing 2-1 today.

The Mountaineers (2-15) struck first with a run in the top of the first inning.  Kaylee Stoner singled, stole second base, and then scored on Kaia Bonshock's double for a 1-0 advantage.

Villanova (13-11) tied the score in the fourth when Chloe Smith and Megan Kern each singled to put runners on first and third.  After Kern stole second, Mount starter Amanda Berkley got a popout to catcher for the first out.  Villanova's Caroline Jones then lofted a sacrifice fly to left to score the tying run.

The Mount had the leadoff runner on board in each of the next two innings with Maggie Kane leading of the fifth with a double and Vanessa Martin singing to open the sixth.  The Mount was unable to produce the go-ahead run in either frame.

Villanova's Paige Rauch then led off the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run to give the Wildcats the 2-1 lead. 

In the seventh, the Mount's Mariah Godde led off with a single, and pinch runner Kirsten Mumma moved to second on a passed ball.  After a strikeout, Kane moved Mumma to third on a groundout, but pinch hitter Shelbee Holcomb was retired on a fly ball to end the game.

Stoner and Godde each went 2-for-3 at the plate to pace the Mount offense while Berkley allowed two runs and seven hits in the complete-game effort.  Rauch was the star of the game for Villanova, going 2-for-3 at the plate with the solo home run while also tossing a complete game with 10 strikeouts to earn the win in the circle.

GAME 2:  Mount St. Mary's 5, San Diego 4

Vanessa Martin's walk with the bases loaded in the top of the fifth brought home the go-ahead run in the Mount's 5-4 victory over San Diego.  Kaylee Stoner reached base all four times in the game, going 3-for-3 with a walk, to lead the Mountaineer offense.

The Mountaineers started the game quickly with Stoner lacing a triple down the right field line to lead off the game.  Martin followed with a double to give the Mount a 1-0 lead just two batters into the game.  Kate Wade walked to put runners on first and second, and Maggie Kane came through with a two-out RBI double to right-center field for a 2-0 advantage.

The Toreros answered quickly with two runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the score, stringing together three consecutive two-out hits during the rally.  The Mount regained the lead in the second when Kirsten Mumma and Stoner had consecutive one-out bunt singles to put runners on first and second.  After a strikeout, Bonshock delivered with a double down the left field line to make it 3-2.

San Diego grabbed a 4-3 lead by scoring twice in the third on a walk, a triple and a sacrifice fly.  The Mount scored twice in the fifth to post the 5-4 win.  Mariah Godde singled to lead off the inning, but a pair of groundouts had the Mount with a runner on first with two outs in the frame.  Jessica Nines then singled ahead of a Kirsten Mumma base hit that drove home the tying run.  Mumma advanced to second on the play as the Mount had runners on second and third with two outs.  Stoner walked to load the bases, and Martin was walked to bring home the go-ahead run.

Mount starter Avery Neuhart then retired San Diego in order in both the fifth and sixth innings.  In the bottom of the seventh, the Toreros had a single and a walk to put two runners on base, but Neuhart was able to get a groundout to end the game.

In addition to Stoner's three-hit game, Kane went 2-for-4 with two doubles, Bonshock 2-for-4 with a double and Mumma 2-for-4 with an RBI.  Neuhart earned the win, allowing four runs in the complete-game effort.

The Mountaineers conclude their trip to San Diego tomorrow with games against Villanova and CSUN.