Emmitsburg, Md. (April 18, 2025)--Laurenne Gallagher scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning as Mount St. Mary's earned a 2-1 walk-off victory over Siena in the opening game of a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) doubleheader at Our Lady of the Meadows Field on Friday afternoon.  Siena rebounded to earn an 8-3 win in game two of the twinbill.

Mount St. Mary's (9-32, 4-16 MAAC) took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning of the first game in what turned out to be a terrific pitcher's duel.  Gina Del Giorno led off the inning with a base hit, and moved to second on a Kelsie Bandelow sacrifice bunt.  Tristin Koerner drew a walk, and Del Giorno was able to scamper to third on a passed ball on ball four.  Brianna Manni then placed a perfect squeeze bunt to plate Del Giorno for a 1-0 Mount.

Mount starting pitcher Ellie Meier made that 1-0 lead stand up, holding the Saints to just two hits over 5.2 innings.  After a two-out walk in the top of the sixth, the Mount turned to Sophia Schmehl to close out the game.  The Mountaineers had Siena down to their final out, but Lauren Melton reached on an error to short with the ball going all the way to the fence in left center field, allowing Carlie Venables to score the tying run.  Melton went to third on the play, but Schmehl was able to get a strikeout to end the inning and keep the score tied.

Del Giorno had a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh, and reached second after a steal with two outs, but Siena pitcher Alissa Eimont ended the frame with a strikeout.  Schmehl retired Siena in order in the top of the eighth to set the table for the walk-off victory.  Gallagher drew a walk to open the inning, and moved to second on Tyra Christian's sacrifice bunt.  Emma Tawney followed with a single to center field, and when the center fielder bobbled the ball, Gallagher was able to sprint home with the game-winning run.

Del Giorno went 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored while Tawney added two hits in the win as well.  Schmehl picked up the victory, allowing an uearned run with a pair of strikeouts in 2.1 innings of relief.  Meier allowed just two hits in 5.2 innings in a solid start for the Mountaineers.

In game, two, Siena took advantage of a sloppy Mount defense to rally for an 8-3 victory.  All eight of the Saints runs were unearned in the game.

Siena scored a pair of unearned runs in the top of the second to take the lead.  The Mount rebounded in a big way when Bandelow cracked her first career home run, a three-run shot in the bottom of the third inning to put the Mount ahead, 3-2.  Grace Kobert singled with one out with Del Giorno drawing a walk to set the table for Bandelow, who drove the ball over the left field fence to put the Mountaineers on top.

The Saints regained the lead with four unearned runs in the top of the fifth of Mount relief pitcher Olivia Murphy.  Cali DeLawder capped the inning with a pinch-hit two-run single with the bases loaded to make it 6-3.  The Saints added two more unearned runs in the sixth on a Melton two-out, two-run single.

Schmehl started game two for the Mount, allowing two unearned runs and just three hits in four innings.  She finished the day allowing three unearned runs and three hits in 6.1 innings of work.  Murphy pitched the final three innings, striking out two while also not allowing an earned run.  Bandelow went 2-for-3 at the plate in game two with a home run and three RBI while Tristin Koerner added her team-leading 11th double in the game.

The teams conclude the three-game series tomorrow at noon at Our Lady of the Meadows Field on campus.