Emmitsburg, Md. (March 8, 2024)--Mount St. Mary's was edged by Howard, 6-3, in eight innings in the home opener at Our Lady of the Meadows Field on Friday afternoon.  Kassidy Johnson paced the Mount with a pair of hits in the game.

Mount St. Mary's (2-11) jumped out to the early lead with a run in the bottom of the first off Howard pitcher Amelia Weber.  Abigayle Perry led off the frame by reaching on a wild pitch on a third strike.  Perry stole second base, and moved to third on a Zoe Truxon flyout.  Tori Bowles then laced a hard-hit ball past the third baseman to bring home Perry with the game's first run.

Mount St. Mary's added to the lead with a run in the bottom of the fourth.  With two outs and no one on base, Elizabeth King started the rally with a base hit with Avery Dinges following with a single up the middle to put runners on first and second.  Johnson then brought home King with an RBI single to left to make it 2-0.

Howard (16-5) cut the deficit to one with a run in the top of the fifth inning on an Alyssa Vasquez single up the middle.  Howard took the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning.  Brian Finley drew a walk to open the inning and Bianca Worthy followed with a base hit to right with an error on the play putting runners on second and third with no outs.  Olivia Murphy, who started for the Mount and pitched the first five innings, came on in relief.  After a groundout, Vasquez reached on a Mount error that allowed both runners to score for a 3-2 Howard lead.

The Mountaineers rallied in the bottom of the inning to tie the score.  Johnson's single through the left side led off the inning.  Julia Vincent pinch-ran for Johnson, and promptly stole second base.  Gina Del Giorno followed with a infield hit to third to put runners on the corners.  Del Giorno stole second and when the throw back to the pitcher bounced off her glove, Vincent came home to tie the score.  Del Giorno added another stolen base to put the winning run on third with no outs.  Weber, who re-entered the game in place of relief pitcher Julia Holt, got a strikeout, groundout, and lineout to left to end the inning.

The game went to the eighth inning with the international tie-breaker rule in place.  Cheyenne Castille led off with a base hit, and she stole second to put runners on second and third with no outs.  Angel Riggins singled to left to break the tie, advancing to second on the play to put two runners in scoring position.  The next reached on an error to second base, allowing one run to score, and an errant throw to first allowed the second runner to make it home for a 6-3 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth, Murphy singled and moved to second on the throw to put runners on second and third with no outs.  Weber, however, was able to get two flyouts and a strikeout to end the game.

Johnson went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI for the Mount while Perry and Del Giorno each had a pair of stolen bases.  Murphy took the loss, allowing three earned runs in 7.0 innings with a season-high six strikeouts. Sophia Schmehl allowed a pair of unearned runs in one inning of relief.  Worthy went 3-for-5 to lead Howard at the palte while Castille was 3-for-4.  Weber earned the win, striking out six while allowing two runs in 7.2 innings of work.

There will be three games at the Mount on Sunday to wrap up play this weekend.  Howard will face Niagara at 11:00 a.m. before playing the Mount a 1:00 p.m.   The Mount will then host Niagara at 3:00 p.m. to round out the day.