EMMITSBURG, Md. (March 5, 2022) – Bridgette Gilliano guided the Mount St. Mary's softball offense while the pitching staff combined for one earned run the entire day as the team swept Howard 5-2 and 4-0 Saturday at Our Lady of the Meadows Field.

The Mount infielder went 3-for-4 with four stolen bases, three runs driven in, and two runs scored. Her efforts were counterparts with the pitching of Amanda Berkley, Olivia Murphy and Avery Neuhart allowed one earned run the whole day – which came in the final inning of game one. Murphy's five shutout innings netted the freshman her first collegiate victory.

In the opener, the Mountaineers chipped ahead one inning at a time. Kaia Bonshock sent home Gilliano for the first two runs – hitting a groundout then a single. Gilliano then supplied the run in the fourth, whacking a single to score Vanessa Martin.
 
Howard cut the deficit to 3-1 on a throwing error, but Gilliano returned the favor with a two-run single, sending Martin home again along with Zoe Truxon. The insurance came in handy in holding off a small Bison rally for the first win.
 
A pitchers' duel broke out at the start of the second game. Murphy matched Analiese De La Roca, including an escaped jam in the first, leaving the bases loaded. Mount's offense came in a bunch, beginning with pinch runner Julia Vincent scoring on an error. Truxon followed with a double, backed up by RBI singles from Gilliano and Elizabeth King to complete a four-run inning.
 
Avery Neuhart and stout defense finished the shutout, limiting Howard to six hits in securing the doubleheader sweep.
 
This series concludes Sunday (March 6) with a 1 p.m. game, hosted by Howard at the Nationals Youth Academy. The Mount returns home with a weekend tournament March 12^th and 13^th, hosting Cornell and Morgan State.