Emmitsburg, Md. (April 23, 2022)--Strong pitching, a pair of home runs and speed on the bases helped lead Mount St. Mary's to a sweep of visiting Bryant in a Northeast Conference doubleheader at Our Lady of the Meadows Field today.  The Mount captured the opening game, 2-0, behind a one-hit shutout from Amanda Berkley.  Mariah Godde's tie-breaking homer to lead off the bottom of the fifth propelled the Mount to a 3-1 win in game two.  With the win in game two, head coach Anna Nagro reached 200 career wins at the helm of the Mount softball program.  The Mountaineers improve to 23-17 overall and 15-5 in the Northeast Conference with the sweep.

In the opening game, Berkley twirled a one-hit shutout to lift the Mountaineers to the 2-0 victory.  Berkley was in command all day, limiting the Bulldogs (10-24, 8-9 NEC) to a one-out bunt single in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Berkley got all the offense she would need when Kaia Bonshock belted a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning for a 1-0 advantage.  Bridgette Gilliano used her speed to give the Mount a two-run lead in the bottom of the third.  Gililano laced a single to right with two outs, and quickly got into scoring position with a stolen base.  She then advanced to third on a delayed steal, and scampered home on a wild pitch to put the Mount up 2-0.

Leading 2-0 in the top of the sixth, Berkley's no-hit bid was denied when Allison Tomaino placed a perfect bunt for an infield single with one out.  The Mount defense quicklly erased the scoring threat with a 6-4-3 double-play to end the inning.  Berkley retired the side in the seventh to improve to 11-6 on the season.  She struck out three and did not allow a walk in the complete-game effort.

Bonshock finished 1-for-1 with two walks and a solo home run to pace the Mount while Gilliano added a hit, two steals and a run scored in the win.  Elizabeth King had the Mount's other hit in the game.  Sarah McKeveny took the loss for Bryant, allowing two runs and three hits in six innings of work.

The Mount scored twice in the bottom of the fifth inning to earn the 3-1 win in the second game of the twinbill.  Mariah Godde's lead-off home run snapped the 1-1 tie, and Bonshock added an insurance run with an RBI single to help secure the victory.

It was another strong pitching performance for the Mount as freshman Olivia Murphy twirled a four-hit complete-game victory to improve to 7-3 on the season.  Murphy's lone run allowed was a solo home run by Megan Marcel in the top of the fifth that tied the score at 1-1.  Murphy struck out a season-high seven batters while allowing four hits and no walks in the game.

The Mount took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the the third, taking advantage of Gilliano's speed on the base paths again. Gilliano doubled to the left-field fence to put herself in scoring position.  She then pulled off another delayed steal of third, and she came home to score when the pitcherr's throw to third went over the head of the third baseman.

Marcel tied the score in the fifth with a solo home run, but the Mount respnded with the two runs in the bottom of the frame.  Godde line a home run to left-center field off Bryant starter Kylie Kenney for a 2-1 lead.  Abigayle Perry drew a walk, moved to second on a Gilliano sacrifice, to third on a wild pitch, and she scored on a Bonshock single to left field.

Bonshock went 2-for-2 with a walk while Elizabeth King added a pair of hits in the victory. 

The teams conclude the three-game series with a single game at noon tomorrow at Our Lady of the Meadows Field.  Prior to the game, the Mount will honor this year's senior class.

NOTES:  The Mount has won nine in a row against Bryant...The 15 Northeast Conference wins are the most NEC wins in a season by the Mountaineers, breaking the old mark set by the 2006 team...The Mount went 14-6 in NEC play that season...Kaia Bonshock went 3-for-3 with three walks in the doubleheader...Nagro's 200th win at the Mount comes in her 12th season as head coach...Gilliano had three steals on the day to give her 36 on the season...She entered the doubleheader tied for fifth in NCAA Divsion I in total steals.