Raleigh, N.C. (February 19, 2022)---The Mount St. Mary's softball team split a pair of games on the second day of the Wolfpack Classic hosted by NC State today.  Avery Neuhart led the way with a shutout in the Mount's 1-0 win over Lehigh to start the day.  The Mountaineers (2-2) were blanked by host NC State, 9-0, in their second game of the day.

MOUNT ST. MARY'S 1, LEHIGH 0
The Mount's first game of the day was an old-fashioned pitcher's duel between the Mount's Avery Neuhart and Lehigh's Gabriella Nori.  Neuhart came out on top of that battle, tossing a five-hit shutout in a 1-0 victory.

Neither team generated many scoring chances over the first five innings, but Lehigh threated to break the scoreless tie in the top of the sixth.  With one out, the Mountain Hawks strung together a walk and two singles to load the bases.  The Mount got the second out of the inning when Brooke Cannon grounded to third and the Mount's Maggie Kane threw home to get the force play.  Neuhart got a ground out to short to end the threat.

The Mountaineers took advantage with a two-out rally in the bottom of the sixth.  Abigayle Perry's two-out infield single to short set the table for Bridgette Gilliano, who doubled to the gap in right center field to plate Perry with the lone run of the game.

Lehigh again threatened in the seventh, putting runners on first and second with one out after a single and a Mount error.  Neuhart was able to erase the threat when the Mount got the lead runner on a grounder to third for the second out, and then retired the final batter on a fly out to right to complete the shutout bid.

NC STATE 9, MOUNT ST. MARY'S 0

NC State scored five times in the bottom of the first inning en route to a 9-0 win over the Mount in the second game of the day. 

The Wolfpack's Kaylee Lembrecht led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run to get the inning started.  Brittany Jackson followed with a double, and Logan Morris made it 3-0 with a two-run homer.  The final two runs of the inning came on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly.

Lambrecht connected for her second home run of the day in the bottom of the second with Taylor Ensley adding a solo shot in the third for the Wolfpack.

The Mount had a scoring chance in the fourth when Bridgette Gilliano reached on an error, and then stole second and third base.  Kaia Bonshock also reached on an error, and pinch runner Erin Krizmanich stole second to put runners on second and third with one out.  NC State struck out the next two batters to escape the jam.

NC State pitchers Aisha Weixlmann and Maddie McPherson combined to pitch a no-hitter in the game.  Weixlmann struck out nine in four innings of work to pick up the win while McPherson struck out the side in the fifth to seal the victory.

Amanda Berkley started for the Mount, allowing five runs in one inning of work. Amaya Bowman pitched the final three innings, allowing four runs while striking out one.

The Mount closes out the Wolfpack Classic tomorrow with a 12:30 p.m. matchup against NC State.