Emmitsburg, Md. (March 16, 2024)--Olivia Murphy's walk-off single capped a doubleheader sweep of visiting UMass Lowell at Our Lady of the Meadows Field on Saturday afternoon.  The Mount took the first game, 4-2, before earning a 4-3 victory in 10 innings in the nightcap.  The Mount improves to 5-12 on the season with the wins.

In the opening game, Mount St. Mary's scored four times in the bottom of the fourth inning to secure the 4-2 victory.  Julia Vincent belted a lead-off triple to start the four-run fourth, and Tori Bowles followed by driving the ball over the center field fence for a 2-0 advantage.  Elizabeth King reached on an error and Zoe Truxon recorded a bunt single to put runners on first and second.  After a Kassidy Johnson sacrifice bunt, Avery Dinges singled to center field to plate both runners for a 4-0 Mount lead.

The River Hawks (3-13) got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth when Emily Tow hit a two-run homer to cut the Mount's advantage in half.  Murphy, the Mount's starting pitcher, walked the next batter, but then retired the final three batters to keep the Mount in front.  Sophia Schmehl came on in relief in the top of the sixth, and pitched two scoreless innings to record her the first save of her collegiate career.

Murphy allowed two runs and three hits in five innings of work to pick up the victory.  Schmehl struck out a pair while allowing just one hit in her two-inning save.  Six different Mountaineers recorded a hit in the win.

Game two turned into a grind as the Mount prevailed 4-3 in 10 innings to secure the sweep.  The River Hawks opened the scoring with an unearned run in the top of the first inning off Mount pitcher Maddie Coleman.  The Mount answered with an unearned run in the second to tie the score at 1-1. Taylor Williams walked to open the bottom of the second, stole second base, and then moved to third when the catcher's throw went into center field.  After a strikeout, Dinges reached on an RBI fielder's choice when she grounded to third and Williams beat the throw home to tie the score.

Coleman was in cruise control after that, limiting the River Hawks to just one hit over the first seven innings to keep the score tied at 1-1.  The Mount had a chance to win the game in regulation, putting the winning run on third with one out.  Dinges reached on an error to open the inning, and she moved to second on an Abigayle Perry sacrifice bunt.  She then moved to third on a passed ball and Vincent followed with a walk and a steal to put runners on second and third.  UMass Lowell pitcher Rylie White was able to escape the jam with a pair of strikeouts. 

The international tiebreaker rule was implemented in the top of the ninth inning with a runner put on second to open the inning.  UMass Lowell's Isabel Quintanilla then led off the inning with a home run over the left field fence to put the River Hawks up, 3-1.  The Mount rallied in the bottom of the inning to tie the game.  Williams was placed on second to open the inning, and she moved to third on a Johnson groundout to short.  Dinges then singled to right field to bring home Williams to make it 3-2.  Perry drew a walk to put runners on first and second with one out, but White was able to get a strikeout to move one out away from the win.  Bowles, though, kept the game going when she grounded the ball up the middle.  UMass Lowell shortstop Lea White made a diving stop and tried to get the force at second, but Perry was there in time.  Dinges never stopped running on the play and she beat the throw home with the tying run.

Coleman was able to keep UMass Lowell off the scoreboard in the top of the 10th to set up Murphy's walk-off hit.  In the bottom of the 10th, Truxon led off with a single to right-center field to put runners on first and third with no outs.  Murphy followed by hitting a line up the middle that was deflected by the pitcher with Elizabeth King scampering home with the winning run.

Coleman had a strong performance in the circle for the Mount, allowing one earned run while striking out eight in the 10-inning complete game.  Dinges finished 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI while Williams scored a pair of runs.

The teams will complete the three-game series with a single game tomorrow at noon.