Emmitsburg, Md. (April 24, 2021)—Tori Bowles connected for a walk-off single to lead Mount St. Mary's past Sacred Heart, 3-2, in the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader at Our Lady of the Meadows Field.  The Pioneers survived a game-tying Bowles home run in the bottom of the seventh to post an 8-5 win over the Mount in nine innings in the second game.

In the opener, the Mount (14-23, 7-12 NEC) scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to rally for the 3-2 victory.  Mariah Godde started the rally with an infield single to lead off the inning.  Abigayle Perry moved Godde to second with a sacrifice bunt, and Bridgette Gilliano brought home the tying run with a single up the middle.

Gilliano stole second base, and she stole third on a delayed steal when Kaia Bonshock walked to put runners on the corners, setting up Bowles for the game-winning at bat.  Bowles laced a line drive to right-center field to plate Gilliano with the winning run.

The Pioneers (10-18, 8-12 NEC) took the lead in the top of the sixth inning when Alyssa Gonzalez belted a two-run homer for a 2-1 advantage.  It was just the third hit of the game for Sacred Heart off Mount starting pitcher Amanda Berkley.

The game was scoreless heading into the bottom of the first before the Mountaineers broke through.  Bowles singled through the left side to start the inning, and pinch runner Kirsten Mumma stole second base.  Vanessa Martin moved Mumma to third with a sacrifice, and Maggie Kane came through with a single through the left side to plate Mumma for the initial run of the game.

Berkley earned the win with the complete-game three-hitter to improve to 10-8 on the season.  Bowles and Godde each went 2-for-3 at the plate to pace the Mount offense.

In the second game, the Mount jumped out to a 4-1 lead after four innings of play, only to see the Pioneers rally and eventually earn the 8-5 win in extra innings.

Bonshock broke a scoreless tie with a solo home run in the bottom of the third inning to put the Mount on top, 1-0.  The Pioneers answered with an unearned run in the fourth to even the score.

Mount St. Mary's regained the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fourth.  Lexi Donovan started the scoring with a solo home run, her third long ball of the season.  With two outs and on one on base, Gilliano singled, and she came around to score on a Bonshock double off the left field fence.  Bowles then singled to left to bring home Bonshock to put the Mount up by three.

Sacred Heart answered with four quick runs in the top of the fifth inning.  Carolina Kruger greeted Mount reliever Elizabeth King with a double to lead off the frame.  After a ground out, Amy Petrovich doubled to plate Kruger to make it 4-2.  Gonzalez followed with a base hit to cut the Mount's advantage to one, and Emily Carroll's two-run homer put the Pioneers on top, 5-4.  Neuhart came back into the game and got the final two outs to stop the rally.
Neuhart added two more scoreless innings to keep it a one-run game heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, setting the stage for Bowles for another clutch hit.  This time, the freshman belted a solo home run to tie the score and force extra innings.
Neuhart stranded a runner on third with one out in the top of the eighth, and the Mount had a chance to win in the bottom of the inning.  Bonshock singled with two outs, and Mumma pinch ran and stole second base to put the winning run in scoring position with Bowles again at the plate.  This time, Sacred Heart reliever Colleen Walsh was able to strike Bowles out to force the game to the ninth inning.

In the ninth, Gonzalez belted a three-run homer, her team-leading 11^th of the season, to provide Sacred Heart with the winning margin.

Bonshock went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, two runs scored and two RBI for the Mount in the loss.  Gilliano, Bowles and Donovan all added mulit-hit games.  Gonzalez went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI to lead the Pioneers.

Neuhart took the loss, allowing four runs (two earned) in 8.2 innings of work. 

The teams complete the four-game series with a noon doubleheader tomorrow.