Emmitsburg, Md. (March 17, 2024)--A second consecutive extra-inning walk-off win lifted Mount St. Mary's to a three-game sweep of its weekend series with visiting UMass Lowell.  Abigayle Perry's infield single brought home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth in the Mount's 4-3 victory.  The Mountaineers improve to 6-12 on the year with the win.

The Mount scored three times in the bottom of the third inning to take the lead.  Gina Del Giorno singled to left with one out to start the rally, and Perry was hit by a pitch.  The duo pulled off a double steal to move into scoring position, and Julia Vincent came through with a single up the middle to plate the pair for a 2-0 Mount lead.  Vincent stole second base, and the came home on an Elizabeth King base hit for a three-run advantage.

Mount starter Sophia Schmehl held the River Hawks off the scoreboard thru three innings, but ran into some trouble in the top of the fourth.  Morgan Fisher singled ahead of an Ellie Frederick double to put two runners in scoring position.  Trinadey Santiago followed with drive to the right-center field fence to plate both runners.  Santiago slipped going around first and stay there for the two-run single.  Olivia Murphy came on in relief and retired the next two batters to keep the Mount in front.

UMass Lowell tied the score in the top of the fifth when Lea White drove a solo home run over the center field fence to make it 3-3.  UMass Lowell threatened in the top of the seventh.  Cayla Tulley followed with a fly ball to left center field that was dropped by Del Giorno.  The Mount left fielder was able to recover the ball and get pinch runner Shannon Howes, who had to hold up to make sure the ball wasn't caught, with a force out at second base.  Tulley moved to second on a wild pitch, and Alaina Santoli then grounded the ball to second base.  Mount second baseman Avery Dinges bobbled Santoli's grounder, allowing her to reach base, but Tulley kept running, and Dinges was able to throw home to Mount catcher Tori Bowles, who made the tag for the third out of the inning.

Murphy was able to keep UMass Lowell off the scoreboard in the eighth and ninth innings, setting up the Mount's ninth-inning win.  With the tiebreaker rule in place, Kassidy Johnson was placed on second to open the bottom of the ninth.  Tristin Koerner singled off the pitcher's glove to put runners at the corners with no outs.  Pinch runner Brianna Manni stole second, and Del Giorno drew a walk to load the bases, bringing Perry to the plate.  Perry hit a slow grounder that got past the pitcher and went to UMass Lowell shortstop White.  White's throw to the plate was late, allowing Johnson to secure the winning run.

Del Giorno went 3-for-3 with a run scored in the victory while Perry reached base four times, going 1-for-2 with a walk, two hit batsmen, a run scored and two stolen bases.  Johnson added two hits in the victory for the Mount, which had 10 hits in the contest.  Schmehl allowed two earned runs in 3.1 innings in a no decision.  Murphy picked up the win, allowing one run and three hits in 5.2 innings of work.  She struck out four with no walks in the game to earn her second win of the series.

Up next, the Mount heads to Morgan State for a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 20.

NOTES:  The Mount has played four extra innings over its six games, all at home, posting a 3-1 record in those contest.  The Mount is now 4-2 at home this year is now 40-9 at home over since 2022 and has a 65-24 mark at Our Lady of the Meadows Field since 2019...The Mount is now 3-1 all-time against UMass Lowell.