Box Score Brookville, N.Y. (May 9, 2022)—Bridgette Gilliano drove in two runs while
Amanda Berkley picked up a complete-game victory as Mount St. Mary's closed the regular season with a 4-2 win at LIU on Monday afternoon. The Mount improves to 25-20 overall and 17-7 in the NEC with the victory.
One day after tossing a no-hitter against the Sharks, Berkley put in another strong performance this afternoon. The graduate student allowed no earned runs and just five hits in the complete-game win to improve to 13-6 on the season.
Gilliano went 2-for-3 with two RBI while leadoff hitter
Abigayle Perry reached base in all four plate appearances in the victory. Perry finished 1-for-1 with a triple, a walk while being hit by a pitch twice I the contest.
Maggie Kane scored twice in the victory as well.
The Mountaineers grabbed the lead in the top of the first inning when Perry led off the game by lacing a triple to the fence in center field. She then scampered home when the throw to third was off the mark, giving the Mount the 1-0 advantage. It is Perry's team-leading sixth triple of the season.
Mount St. Mary's added to the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning.
Vanessa Martin walked and Kane was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second.
Mariah Godde came through with a two-out double to right center field for a 2-0 lead. After a walk to Perry, Gilliano walked with the bases loaded to force home Kane for a three-run Mount lead.
The Sharks finally broke through against Berkley in the bottom of the third inning for a pair of unearned runs. Alyssa Polemini led of the third with an infield single to the hole between first and second base, LIU's first hit against Berkley in seven-plus innings. Kristen Blanchard followed with a bunt single, and the Sharks loaded the bases with one out when Camryn Lyman reached on an error. Kane was able to get a force out for the second out of the inning, but a wild pitch allowed Katie Hinkle to score and cut the Mount's lead to 3-1. A Mount error then allowed the Sharks to score another run to make it a one-run game.
Mount St. Mary's answered back in the top of the fourth with a single run to make it 4-2. Kane walked, and advanced into scoring position with a stolen base, her 15
th steal of the year. Kane moved to third on a groundout, and Perry was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners. Gilliano then brought home Kane with a single up the middle for the two-run lead.
LIU made it interesting in the bottom of the seventh. Polemini led the inning off with a single to center field. Berkley got the next two outs on force plays at second, but a Lyman single to left put runners on the corners with two outs. Berkley, however, was able to get Kiana Cisneros to ground back to her for the final out of the inning for the victory.
The Mount will now head to the 2022 Northeast Conference Softball Championships which will be held May 12-14 at Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pa. The Mount will be the second seed in the four-team field and will face third-seeded Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round on Thursday.
