Fairfield, Conn. (April 10, 2022)—Mount St. Mary's extended its win streak to 11 games with a 4-0 win at Sacred Heart on Sunday afternoon to complete a sweep of the three-game Northeast Conference series.
Elizabeth King had a pair of doubles while
Bridgette Gilliano went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three stolen bases to pace the offense in the victory.
After three quiet innings, each team threatened to score in the fourth. The Mount loaded the bases on a King double, a
Maggie Kane hit batsman and a
Vanessa Martin walk, but Sacred Heart pitcher Carly Koltko got a strikeout to end the threat.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Pioneers (7-27, 2-7 NEC) loaded the bases with a pair of two-out walks and an infield single. Mount starter
Amanda Berkley responded by getting the final out on a pop out to short center field to end the threat.
The Mount (18-14, 10-2 NEC) scored three times in the fifth to take control of the game.
Abigayle Perry was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. She advanced to third on a wild pitch, and Gilliano followed with a bunt single on a squeeze play to plate Perry with the first run. Gilliano advanced to second on the bunt, and then stole third.
Kaia Bonshock reached on an error by the first baseman, picking up an RBI when Gilliano scored on the play for a 2-0 lead. Pinch runner
Julia Vincent stole second base ahead of a
Tori Bowles walk. King then laced a double to left field, her second two-base hit on the day, to drive in Vincent for a 3-0 advantage.
The Mount added to the lead with a run in the sixth. Gilliano reached on an field single and then stole second base for her third steal of the game. Gilliano's three steals give her a team-high 28 stolen bases on the year. Bonshock followed by lacing a base hit to center field to bring home Gilliano to make it a four-run lead for the Mountaineers.
Berkley improved to 8-5 on the season with five shutout innings in the win. Berkley allowed just two hits while striking out a pair in her winning effort.
Avery Neuhart closed the game out with a pair of scoreless innings of relief.
The Mount's 11-game win streak is the second longest in school history behind a 21-game win streak during the 1987 season. In addition, the Mount's 11-game win streak is currently tied for the seventh longest win streak in the nation.
The Mountaineers are in second place in the NEC standings with a 10-2 conference mark, trailing first-place Saint Francis U, who is 8-1 in league play.
The Mount returns to action with a three-game NEC home series against Fairleigh Dickinson beginning with a doubleheader at Our Lady of the Meadows Field on campus on Friday, April 15.
