Emmitsburg, Md. (May 3, 2024)--Olivia Murphy's complete game coupled with five doubles from the offense propelled Mount St. Mary's to a 6-1 win over Niagara in the second game of Friday afternoon's doubleheader at Our Lady of the Meadows Field.  Niagara took the opening game, 8-3.

Mount St. Mary's (14-31, 6-16 MAAC) took the lead with a run in the bottom of the first in game two.  Julia Vincent singled and moved to third on a Tori Bowles doubled.  Kassidy Johnson followed by lofting a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home Vincent with the first run of the game.

The Mountaineers broke through with three more runs in the fourth to take control.  Vincent drew a one-out walk, and back-to-back singles from Bowles and Johnson loaded the bases.  Zoe Truxon followed by driving the ball over the left field fence on a bounce for a ground-rule double and two RBI. Elizabeth King's sacrifice fly brought home another run for a 4-0 lead. 

In the fourth, Laurenne Gallagher doubled and a bunt single from Taylor Williams put runners on the corners, setting up Abigayle Perry for a sacrifice fly to right to make it 5-0.  The Mount's final run came in the fifth when Johnson doubled, and then came home on a King two-base hit.

The Purple Eagles (26-19, 15-7 MAAC) got their lone run in the sixth.

Murphy improved to 7-7 on the season with her efficient complete-game effort.  She scattered six hits while striking out a pair in her 88-pitch complete-game.  Johnson went 2-for-2 with two runs scored while Truxon and King each had two RBI.  The Mount had nine hits in game two.

In the opening game, Niagara scored three times in the top of the first to take the early lead.  The Mount fought back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first.  Perry, Vincent and Bowles were each hit by a pitch to open the bottom of the first.  A dropped pop up on an infield fly allowed Perry to score, and a Johnson RBI groundout cut the deficit to 3-2.  Niagara answered with a run in the top of the second, but the Mount fought back in the third when Perry singled, moved to second on a sacrifice, and scored on a Brianna Manni base hit.

The Purple Eagles clinched the win with a four-run fifth inning.

Sophia Schmehl pitched a complete game for the Mount in the opener of the twinbill, allowing six earned runs with four strikeouts.  Perry scored twice in the loss.

The teams will complete the three-game series tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Meadows Field on campus.