Emmitsburg, Md. (April 3, 2022)--Bridgette Gilliano had a banner day in leading Mount St. Mary's to a 9-1 win in six innings over visiting Central Connecticut on Sunday afternoon.  Gilliano broke the Mount's single-season steal record with her first inning stolen base, and finished the day 3-for-3 with a home run, three steals, three runs scored and two RBI to help the Mount extend its win streak to eight games.

Gilliano entered the day with 21 stolen bases, tied with Nikki Wisniewski who set the school mark in 1999.  It didn't take long for Gilliano to make the record her own.  In the bottom of the first, Abigayle Perry walked and Gilliano laced a single to center field to put runners on first and second base.  The pair then pulled off a double steal, with Perry scoring when the throw to third got away allowing her to scamper home with the first run of the game.  Gilliano advanced to third on the play, and she made it 2-0 when Tori Bowles brought her home with a single to center field.  Maggie Kane's RBI infield single that scored Elizabeth King capped a three-run first inning for the Mountaineers.

The Mount (15-14, 7-2 NEC) took control of the game with four runs in the bottom of the second for a commanding 7-0 advantage.  Zoe Wilcox was hit by a pitch and Mariah Godde followed with a single to left field with both runners moving into scoring position on an error by the left fielder.  A wild pitch allowed Wilcox to score for a 4-0 lead.  Gilliano then singled sharply off the pitcher to score Godde to make it 5-0.  Gilliano stole second and third base and then came home to score on a Bowles single to left field.  Elizabeth King's RBI double scored Bowles from first base for the seven-run lead.

The Blue Devils (3-27, 1-8 NEC) got on the scoreboard in the top of the third.  After loading the bases with one out, Paige Stringer's hard-hit ground ball brought home CCSU's lone run, making the score 7-1.  Central Connecticut had a chance to cut into the lead further, but Mount starter Avery Neuhart got out of the jam with a strikeout and a fly out.

Gilliano added to the lead with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to push the Mount lead to 8-1.  Mount St. Mary's closed out the victory in the bottom of the sixth.  Perry tripled to right field to put the game-clinching run on third base.  She came home on a Bonshock single to right that made it a 9-1 victory.

Gilliano's three-hit day paced the Mount offense that finished with nine runs on 11 hits, including three extra base hits.  Gilliano's three steals give her 24 on the year in 29 games played.  The Mountaineers had six stolen bases in the game and went 13-for-13 in stolen bases in the three-game sweep over the Blue Devils.  The Mount leads the NEC with 57 steals this year.  Bowles finished 2-for-2 in the game while Bonshock had a pair of RBI.

Neuhart improved to 2-5 on the season, allowing one run with six strikeouts in five innings of work.  King pitched a scoreless inning of relief.

The Mount has won eight games in a row, the longest win streak by the Mountaineers since a 21-game win streak during the 1987 season.  It is the longest win streak by the Mount since moving to NCAA Division I in 1988-89.  With the three-game sweep, the Mount improves to 9-1 at home this season.  The Mountaineers are 34-16 at Our Lady of the Meadows Field since 2019.

Mount St. Mary's is back in action on Wednesday when Morgan State visits Our Lady of the Meadows Field for a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m.