Emmitsburg, Md. (April 3, 2026)--Mount St. Mary's walked off with a 3-2 victory over visiting Niagara in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) matchup on Friday afternoon.  Emma Tawney drew a two-out walk with the bases loaded to force home the winning run as the Mount stretched its win streak to five.  Lia Festa added a solo home run for the Mountaineers as they improve to 11-20 overall and 7-4 in the MAAC with the victory.

The Mount took the lead in the bottom of the third inning.  Maya Alvarez beat out an infield single to shortstop to start the inning.  She moved to second on a Festa sacrifice bunt, and Taylor Williams followed a single to short to put runners on the corners.  Williams stole second with Avery Dinges following with a walk to load the bases for Gina Del Giorno, who brought home the game's first run with a sacrifice fly.  The Mount maintained the one-run lead until the bottom of the fifth when Festa drove the ball over the left-center field fence for a solo home run, her second long ball of the season.

Niagara (0-20, 0-11 MAAC) rallied with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to even the score.  Donnalea Barnett led off with a base hit, and she came around to score from first base on a Carmella Phelan double.  The Mount brought in Ellie Meier in relief of starter Sophia Schmehl, and a Mount error put runners on the corners with no outs.  Sophia Marrero then singled up the middle to bring home the tying run.  The Mount got the first out of the inning on a fielder's choice, putting runners on the corners again with one out.  After a stolen base, Del Giorno provided the biggest play of the game, catching a line drive from Ella Sheehan, and then throwing out Hailey Cenname at the plate for the inning-ending double play.

The Mount rallied in the seventh to secure the win.  Alvarez led off with a single through the right side with her second hit of the game.  Festa sacrificed Alvarez to second ahead of a Williams walk.  Dinges was then hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out for Del Giorno.  Del Giorno grounded into a fielder's choice with Niagara pitcher Jenna Martin throwing out Alvarez at the plate for the second out.  Tawney was patient at the plate, drawing a five-pitch walk to force home Williams with the winning run.

Meier picked up the win to improve to 4-3 on the year, not allowing a run in one inning of work.  Schmehl dodged trouble most of the day, but turned in a quality start, allowing two runs while striking out six in six innings.  Alvarez went 2-for-3 with a run scored while Tawney reached base three times on a hit and two walks in the win.

The teams complete the three-game series with a doubleheader at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Meadows Field.

NOTES

• The Mount's five game win streak is the longest since a 13-game win streak in 2023.
• Mount St. Mary's is now 7-8 all-time against the Purple Eagles, including a 5-3 mark in MAAC regular season matchups.
• The win moves the Mount to a 7-4 record in the MAAC and into a tie for fifth place in the conference standings.