Emmitsburg, Md. (April 18, 2023)--Mount St. Mary's stretched its win streak to five with a doubleheader sweep of visiting Maryland Eastern Shore on Tuesday afternoon at Our Lady of the Meadows Field.  The Mount took the opening game, 4-1, behind a strong pitching performance from Maddie Coleman.  The Mountaineers scored five times in the bottom of the sixth to earn a 10-6 victory in a wild second game to complete the sweep.  The Mount improves to 24-15 on the season with the victories.

In the opening game, Coleman struck out six while allowing four hits and one run in the complete-game victory.  The freshman moves to 3-5 on the season while lowering her ERA to 2.13.  At the plate, Maggie Kane drilled a two-run homer while Laurenne Gallagher had a pair of hits and an RBI in the win.

Kane cracked a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning to give the Mount a 2-0 lead.   It is Kane's third home run of the year and extends her hit streak to four games.  Gallagher led off the inning with a base hit and came home to score on the Kane long ball.  The Mount extended the lead with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning.  Vanessa Martin led off with a single up the middle and she moved into scoring position with her 13th stolen base of the year.  After Elizabeth King drew a walk, Gallagher came through with a base hit through the left side to score Martin.

The Hawks (12-22) got a run back in the top of the sixth when Kelsie Ekstrom's sinking liner to left brought home Kiyaira Hicks to make it 3-1.  The Mount was able to get that run back in the bottom of the inning.  Erin Krizmanich drew a one-out walk, and Abigayle Perry drove a ball to the fence in center field for her team-leading fourth triple to score Krizmanich to give the Mount a three-run lead.

In game two, the Mount opened the bottom of the first inning with seven consecutive hits to build a 5-0 advantage.  Perry opened the frame with a bunt single and moved to third on a Kane base hit.  Kane then got caught in a rundown trying to steal second and was tagged out, but Perry scored on the play for a 1-0 lead.  Bowles and Mariah Godde followed with base hits, and a wild pitch allowed the pair to move into scoring position.  Hannah Gartrell took advantage of the RBI opportunity by driving a ball to center field to score Bowles and Godde for a 3-0 lead.  Martin then beat out a grounder to second for an infield hit, and an error by the second baseman on the throw allowed Gartrell to score.  The Mount's seventh hit of the inning was a Kassidy Johnson RBI single up the middle.

Maryland Eastern Shore starter Katelyn Smitchko then settled in, facing the minimum 12 batters over the next four innings to allow her team to get back into the game.  A Kaylyn Sterling RBI single in the second put UMES on the board.  The Hawks loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the third, and the first run scored when McKenzie Abiley flew out to deep left for a sacrifice fly.  Mount left fielder Gallagher made a terrific throw to third on the play to nail the runner trying to advance for a double play.  Ryan Merriwether followed with a two-base hit to narrow the Mount's lead to 5-3.  

Avery Neuhart came on in relief of King in the top of the fourth, but she allowed a pair of runs as the Hawks tied the game.  UMES took the lead in the top of the sixth on a Mount error and headed to the bottom of the sixth with a 6-5 lead.

The Mount struck for five runs in the bottom of the frame to secure the win.  Godde led off the inning with a triple off the fence in right field.  Gartrell followed with a single through the left side of the infield to tie the score.  Krizmanich pinch ran for Gartrell, and moved to second on a groundout.  Johnson walked, and Krizmanich then beat a throw to third on a grounder by Gallagher to load the bases.  Gina Del Giorno grounded to the pitcher who threw home for the force for the second out of the inning, bringing Perry to the plate.  The Mount's leadoff hitter drove the ball to deep left for a three-run double for a 9-6 lead.  Kane followed with an RBI single to round out the scoring.

Neuhart allowed three runs (two earned) in four innings to pick up the win and move to 8-3 on the year.  King started and allowed three runs (two earned) in three innings of work.  Perry, Kane, Godde and Gartrell each had two hits in the victory.

The wins complete a stretch of three home doubleheaders in three days for the Mountaineers.  The Mount went 5-1 over those six games and is now 17-3 at home on the year.

The Mountaineers return to action with a key Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference doubleheader against Siena on Saturday at Our Lady of the Meadows Field on campus.  Siena is tied for first in the MAAC with an 8-2 record with the Mount one game behind at 7-3.  The first game will start at 12:00 p.m.