Washington, D.C. (March 6, 2022)--Mount St. Mary's earned an 8-5 win over Howard on Sunday afternoon to complete a three-game sweep of their weekend series. The Mount swept a doubleheader at home yesterday before capturing today's game at Howard's home field at Nationals Youth Academy.
Abigayle Perry provided the big hit in today's win, a three-run homer in the top of the fourth inning that snapped a 2-2 tie and propelled the Mount to the victory.
The Mount (5-9) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a
Tori Bowles sacrifice fly with the bases loaded. The BIson (5-12) answered in the bottom of the inning scoring on a fielder's choice. Howard grabbed a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third on another RBI fielder's choice before the Mount surged ahead with four runs in the top of the fourth inning.
Bowles opened the fourth with a single, and
Kassidy Johnson then reached on an error with pinch runner
Zoe Wilcox advancing to second base. Wilcox stole third base, and then came home with the tying run on a
Laurenne Gallagher RBI fielder's choice. After Howard got the next two outs on fielder's choices at third base, Perry delivered the big hit of the game, a three-run home run to put the Mountaineers on top, 5-2.
The Mountaineers added to the lead with two runs in the top of the fifth. Bowles walked and Gallagher doubled to put runners on second and third with one out.
Vanessa Martin singled in Bowles for a 6-1 lead, and then the Mount executed a double steal with Gallagher scoring for a 7-1 advantage. Howard got back into the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth, but the Mount scored in the sixth to make it 8-4. In the sixth,
Kaia Bonshock doubled, and walks to Bowles, Johnson and Gallagher forced home pinch runner
Maggie Kane. Howard scored a run in the bottom of the sixth to make it 8-5, but the Mount's
Avery Neuhart retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to seal the win.
Bonshock and Gallagher each went 2-for-3 at the plate for the Mount in the win.
Bridgette Gilliano added two steals in the game, giving her a team-high 10 stolen bases this season. Berkley started for the Mount, allowing two runs in three innings of work.
Amaya Bowman allowed two runs in two innings of relief while Neuhart allowed one run while pitching the final two innings.
The Mountaineers return to action next weekend by hosting Morgan State and Cornell in a three-team tournament at Our Lady of the Meadows FIeld. On Saturday, the Mount will face Cornell at 10:00 a.m. and Morgan State at 12:00 p.m. before Morgan State and Cornell will play at 2:00 p.m.
