Emmitsburg, Md. (March 15, 2023)--Mount St. Mary's swept visiting North Dakota in a doubleheader at Our Lady of the Meadows Field on Wednesday afternoon.  The Mount rallied for a 4-3 win in 10 innings in the opening game before using four home runs to power to a 5-0 victory in the nightcap.  The Mount has won four in a row to improve to 8-11 on the season.

Mount St. Mary's 4, North Dakota 3 (10 inn.)

Abigayle Perry drew a bases loaded walk to force home the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Mount to a 4-3 victory in game one of today's doubleheader.  Trailing 3-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Mount rallied for a pair of runs to force extra innings.

North Dakota (2-24) jumped on top when Angie Dumlao singled home Taya Hopfauf in the top of the second for an early 1-0 advantage.  The Mountaineers evened the score with an unearned run in the bottom of the third.  Perry drew a walk, but was forced out at second on a Maggie Kane fielder's choice.  Hannah Gartrell followed with a hard-hit single to third.  North Dakota's third baseman made an errant throw to first that allowed Kane to score all the way from first base to tie the game.

The Fighting Hawks scored twice in the top of the fifth to take a 3-1 lead.  Dumlao walked, moved to second on a groundout, and to third on an Isabella Haslett single that Mount shortstop Mariah Godde made a diving play to keep the ball from going to the outfield.  Haslett advanced to second on the play when Godde tried to get Dumlao at third when she rounded the base.  Dumlao got back in time to put two runners in scoring position for Cassie Castaneda, who laced a hard hit single off Kane that bounced into left field, bringing home both runs.

The Mount rallied in the bottom of the seventh to tie the score.  Pinch hitter Lia Festa led the inning off with a walk, and was replaced by pinch runner Vanessa Martin.  Perry laced a single to center field and Kane walked to load the bases.  That prompted North Dakota to bring Camryn Lasota on in relief of starter Jackie Albrecht.  Lasota got the first out on a pop out, but Kaia Bonshock followed with an RBI single to make it a one-run game.  Bonshock laced a line drive drive that shortstop Katie Joten tipped up into the air, but could not come down with a diving catch.  Brianna Manni followed with a grounder to short, beating the throw to first on the double-play attempt, allowing Perry to score the tying run.

The Mount put the tying run on second with two outs in both the bottom of the eight and the bottom of the ninth, but could not push across the run.  The international tie-breaker rule was instituted in the top of the 10th, with a runner placed on second to open the frame.  Mount relief pitcher Avery Neuhart was able to get out of the top of the 10th with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to keep the score tied at 3-3.

In the bottom of the 10th, Manni was placed on second to open the inning, and immediately advanced to third on a wild pitch.  Tori Bowles walked, and pinch runner Erin Krizmanich stole second.  After a popout, Zoe Truxon walked to load the bases with one out.  Lasota got a strikeout to keep the bases loaded with two outs, but Perry drew a walk on five pitches to force home Manni with the winning run.

Neuhart was sensational in her appearance for the Mount, allowing just two hits in five scoreless innings to pick up the win.  Neuhart allowed just two hits while striking out six.  Mount starter Elizabeth King allowed three runs in five innings of work.  Bonshock and Godde each had two hits for the Mount in the game.  The Mountaineers walked 12 times in the contest.

Mount St. Mary's 5, North Dakota 0

The Mount used the long ball and a strong pitching performance from Olivia Murphy to complete the sweep.  The Mount cracked four home runs, including back-to-back-to-back homers in the bottom of the fourth inning, to earn the 5-0 victory.  Murphy tossed a two-hit shutout for the Mountaineers, striking out six, in the win.

Perry provided fireworks early for the Mount, drilling a home run to lead off the bottom of the first inning to stake the Mount to a 1-0 advantage.  Murphy kept the North Dakota bats in check, and the Mount took control of the game with four runs in the bottom of the fourth.  Bonshock doubled with one out, and then the Mount power took over.  Kassidy Johnson drilled a two-run homer over the center field fence for a 3-0 advantage.  Godde followed by lacing a line drive off the scoreboard in left field for a 4-0 lead.  King made it three consecutive home runs with a drive over the center field fence to make it a five-run lead.

Murphy was able to cruise from there to close out the win.  Murphy improves to 3-4 on the season with her second consecutive shutout win.  The sophomore has not allowed a run in her last 14 innings of work this season. Eight different Mountaineers each had a hit in the victory.

Up Next:  The Mount hosts UAlbany and Lafayette this weekend for the Mount St. Mary's Tournament.  The Mount will face UAlbany at 11 a.m. and Lafayette at 1 p.m. on Saturday.