Softball ousted from USCAA tournament by Mississippi University for Women

DUBOIS, Pa. --- Carlow University softball concluded the 2023 postseason with a 7-0 loss to Mississippi University for Women in an elimination game at the USCAA Small College World Series Tuesday.

A walk, a hit, and a pair of steals and wild pitches allowed the Owls (23-19) to score two runs in the first before Morgan Pierce forced three fly outs in a row to end the inning.

MUW added five runs on five hits in the bottom of the second to lead, 7-0, heading into the third.

The Celtics (15-35) had runners on second and third with two outs in the top of the third but could not bring them in.

Pitcher Megan Pollinger picked up a fly out and strikeout, and second baseman Francesca Beighley made a play up the middle to get the runner at first and retire the Owls in order in the bottom half of the inning.

The Celtics would not allow another MUW run the remainder of the game but were unable to add any runs of their own.

An Owls player legged out a single in the fourth and advanced to second on a wild pitch, but Carlow picked up two fly outs and a laser throw from Nedley across the field to first base ended the inning.

A single and a sacrifice bunt put the go-ahead run on second in the sixth, but Clara Niglio came up with a huge strikeout and a chopper to third got Carlow out of the inning unscathed.

Pollinger was just a home run away from hitting for the cycle after nailing a triple in the seventh, but the Celtics were unable to mount a comeback.

Morgan Pierce, Pollinger and Niglio combined to toss a complete game, but Pierce was saddled with the loss after allowing six earned runs on four hits with two walks in 1.1 innings of work.

Rylie Grisham earned the complete game win, scattering seven hits and striking out six.

Anna Sandlin hit 2 for 4 with a double and three RBI, and Suggs went 2 for 2.