North Andover, Mass. (March 20, 2022)--Mount St. Mary's opened Northeast Conference play by splitting a doubleheader at Merrimack on Sunday. The Mountaineers took the opening game, 4-3, before falling in game two, 3-2.
In the opening game, Mount St. Mary's (7-13, 1-1 NEC) took the early lead when
Kassidy Johnson led off the top of the second inning with a solo home run, her second long ball this season. The Warriors (5-6, 1-1 NEC) took advantage of a couple of Mount errors in the bottom of the inning to even the score at 1-1.
The Mount scored three times in the top of the fourth inning to take a three-run advantage.
Mariah Godde doubled to lead off the inning and pinch runner
Julia Vincent moved to third on a
Vanessa Martin sacrifice bunt. After a groundout,
Abigayle Perry doubled down the right field line to plate Vincent with the go-ahead run.
Bridgette Gilliano was up next, and she came through with a two-run homer to left-center field to make it a 4-1 advantage. Merrimack answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth on a Sidney Shimkus two-run homer to make it a one-run game.
Mount starting pitcher
Amanda Berkley was in control the rest of the way. She retired the Warriors in order in both the fifth and sixth innings. In the bottom of the seventh, Berkley allowed a leadoff single, but she was able to retire the final three batters in order to seal the victory.
In the second game, Merrimack scored twice in the bottom of the third inning to break a 1-1 tie, and held on for the 3-2 victory.
The Mount took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The Mount loaded the bases on walks to Gilliano,
Kaia Bonshock and
Tori Bowles with one out. Johnson brought home the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly to center field to score Gilliano. Merrimack answered with a run in the bottom of the inning to even the score. Courtney Lanpher walked and stole second base, and she came home with the tying run on a Jenna Wike base hit.
The Mount threatened to take the lead in the top of the third, again loading the bases on three walks off Merrimack starter Bry Michitson. The Warriors were able to get out of the inning when Michitson was able to get King on a 1-4-3 groundout. Merrimack then scored twice in the bottom of the inning to take the lead. With one out, Lanpher was hit by a pitch and she stole second base. After Sarah Reisler was walked, Ellen Hubbard singled to plate Lanpher to give Merrimack a 2-1 lead. Wike's sacrifice fielder's choice scored Reisler with what proved to be the winning run.
The Mountaineers sliced the deficit in half when
Maggie Kane led off the top of the fourth inning with a solo home run. The Mount had a pair of runners reach base in the sixth when Kane walked, stole second, and Perry walked to put runners on first and second with two outs. Merrimack pitcher Katelyn Thompson was able to get a strikeout to end the inning. Thompson set the Mount down in order in the seventh to preserve the win.
The Mount finished with two hits in the second game, but stranded nine runners on base due to eight walks by the Merrimack pitchers.
Avery Neuhart started for the Mount, allowing three runs and two hits in three innings of work.
Olivia Murphy pitched three innings of scoreless relief, striking out three while not allowing a hit.
The teams will conclude the three-game series with a single game at noon tomorrow.
