North Andover, Mass. (April 25, 2025)—Mount St. Mary's dropped both ends of its MAAC doubleheader at Merrimack on walk-off hits on Friday afternoon.  The Warriors took the first game, 3-2, in nine innings, before rallying for two runs in the bottom of the seventh for a 7-6 win in game two.

In the opening game, Merrimack (11-28, 8-11 MAAC) took the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning.  The Mount was able to get a run back in the top of the fourth.  Brianna Manni singled to start the inning and stole second base.  She moved to third on a Laurenne Gallagher groundout, and then score on Olivia Murphy's grounder to short.

The score remained 2-1 until the top of the seventh when the Mount (9-36, 4-19 MAAC) was able to tie the score.  Gallagher walked to open the seventh, and pinch runner Korri Brown stole second.  A Murphy grounder to first moved Brown to third, and Tyra Christian tied the score with a double down the left field line. 

In the eighth, Kelsie Bandelow singled with two outs, and stole second base.  But she was stranded when Tristin Koerner struck out to end the inning.  The Mount's Sophia Schmehl, who came on in relief in the bottom of the eight, worked around a two-out single and walk to get the final out to extend the game to the ninth.

The Mount was retired in order in the top of the ninth, and the Warriors were able to secure the win in the bottom half of the inning.  A leadoff walk and a sacrifice bunt put the winning run on second with one out.  The next two batters drew walks to load the bases, and Thiana Brito singled through the left side of the infield for the winning RBI.

Murphy had a strong start for the Mount, allowing two runs while striking out four in seven innings.  Schmehl allowed a run in 1.1 innings of relief to take the loss. 

In game two, the Mount built a 5-1 advantage, and led 6-3 in the fourth inning before the Warriors rallied for the win.  Manni and Bandelow each had three hits for the Mountaineers in the game.
Bandelow singled with one out in the top of the first, and eventually scored on a wild pitch to put the Mount on top, 1-0.  Merrimack answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, but a four-run third inning put the Mountaineers ahead, 5-1.

In the third, Gina Del Giorno walked to open the inning, and Bandelow followed with a double to plate Del Giorno for a 2-1 lead.  Koerner singled home Bandelow, and Gallagher was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second.  Manni followed with a double to left center field for a 4-1 lead.  Emma Tawney walked to load the bases, and Dani Brown's bases loaded walk pushed the lead to four.
Brito had a two-run single in the bottom of the third to cut the Mount's lead in half, but Bandelow and Manni came through in the fourth to put the Mount on top, 6-3.  Bandelow singled to lead off the inning, moved to second on a groundout, and scored on a Manni base hit.

Merrimack took advantage of a hit batsmen and a pair of bases loaded walks in the fifth to cut the Mount lead to 6-5.  Koerner and Manni each singled in the sixth, but Mount was unable to add an insurance run.   The Warriors scored twice in the seventh to rally for the win.  A single and two walks loaded the bases with one out, and Sofia Palyan singled to bring home two runs for the 7-6 win.

Bandelow went 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored while Manni went 3-for-4 for a double and two RBI for the Mount in the loss.  Koerner added two hits and an RBI for the Mount as well.  Amaya Bowman started for the Mount, allowing three run in two-plus innings, while Ellie Meier allowed three runs in 4.1 innings of relief to take the loss.

The teams will conclude the three-game series on Sunday at noon.