Box Score Loretto, Pa. (May 13, 2022)—Mount St. Mary's will have to wait another day to try and advance to the Northeast Conference Softball championship game.  The Mount trails LIU, 2-0, in the top of the fifth inning in an elimination game that has been suspended due to the weather.  The game will pick up tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. with the winning team advancing to the championship later in the day to face top-seeded Saint Francis U.

Olivia Murphy retired LIU in order in each of the first two innings, but LIU struck for a pair of runs in the top of the third inning to take the lead.  Kiana Cisneros doubled off the glove of third baseman Maggie Kane to bring home the first run while Ryleigh Bermea drove home the second run with a base hit.

In the winner's bracket game this morning, the Mount saw top-seeded Saint Francis U rally for three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning for an 8-6 victory.
In the high-scoring, back-and-forth game, Saint Francis (36-16) took the early lead with single runs in the first and second innings off Mount starter Amanda Berkley.  Lindsay Ward had an RBI double in the opening frame and Rachel Marsden hit a solo home run to lead off the second.

The Mountaineers evened the score in the top of the third with a pair of runs.  Mariah Godde reached on an error with two outs, and stole second base.  That set the table for Abigayle Perry, who drove a ball to deep center field that bounced off the top of the fence for a two-run homer.  It is Perry's team-leading seventh home run of the year.

The Red Flash answered back with a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning.  Olivia Ulam singled with two outs and Jordan Frank followed with a blast over the left field fence.

The Mount battled back with four runs in the top of the fifth inning to take the lead, 6-4.  Brianna Manni reached on an error and Godde followed with a base hit to put runners on the corners.  Godde stole second base, and Perry was intentionally walked to load the bases.  Bridgette Gilliano then singled up the middle to bring home two runs to tie the game.  Relief pitcher Grace Vesco struck out the first batter she faced for two outs, but Tori Bowles was hit by a pitch to load the bases again.  This time, Elizabeth King came through with the clutch hit, a single up the middle that plated a pair of runs to put the Mount up, 6-4.

The Red Flash cut into the lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth on a Ward RBI double, and then took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the sixth.  In the sixth, Marsden walked, Ashley Wruble reached on an infield single, and Lauren Aubrey was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs.  Madeline Barnes followed with a two-run single to put SFU ahead, 7-6.  Mekenzie Saban's sacrifice fly added an insurance run for an 8-6 lead.

Down to their last strike, Kaia Bonshock doubled and Bowles reached on an error to put runners on the corners.  Vesco was able to get the final out when King grounded to second base.
Bonshock went 2-for-4 at the plate while Perry was 1-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and two RBI.  Godde added two steals and two runs scored in the game as well.  Berkley allowed four runs in three innings while Neuhart took the loss, allowing four runs in three innings as well.