Softball falls to Hilbert in AMCC doubleheader

BUFFALO, N.Y. --- Carlow University softball lost a pair of AMCC games against Hilbert College at the Buffalo Color Park Elk Street Complex Saturday.

The Celtics (5-15, 3-3 AMCC) lost the first game, 6-3, and the Hawks (10-6, 5-3 AMCC) eked out a 6-5 comeback win in the nightcap.

Game 1: L, 6-3

Carlow struck first to lead off. A single and back-to-back walks loaded the bases for Megan Pollinger, who tallied an RBI on a fielder's choice. Hilbert left two stranded after a strikeout ended the inning.

The Hawks gained the lead in the bottom half of the frame.

A walk and a single put runners on the corners for Hilbert, and a fielder's choice allowed the runner at third to score to tie the game at 1-all.

A walk, a single and a sacrifice fly to right field brought in two more runs for the Hawks before Carlow could get out of the inning.

A leadoff triple, an RBI double, a single and an error allowed Hilbert to take a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the third.

Carlow cut Hilbert's advantage to two in the top of the fourth.

Pollinger drew a walk, and Bella Cartieri ripped a triple to bring her home safely. Rosa DePrater hit a one-out sacrifice fly to right field to bring in Cartieri before Hilbert picked up a strikeout to end the inning.

The Celtics retired the Hawks in order in the bottom of the fourth and saw the bases loaded in the top of the sixth but could not bring anyone around.

Two, two-out singles and a walk added an insurance run for the Hawks in the bottom half of the frame, and Hibert picked up two fly outs and a line out to end the game.

Clara Niglio was saddled with the loss after allowing four earned runs on six hits with a strikeout and three walks in 2.1 innings of work. Justena Giles tossed the final 3.2 innings, allowing one earned run on four hits with two strikeouts and a walk.

Alana Yadov went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI, and Victoria Hanley hit 3 for 3 with a triple and an RBI to lead the Hawks.

Kailey Stolowski earned the win in the circle, allowing three earned runs on five hits with six strikeouts and six walks.

Game 2: L, 6-5

Once again, the Celtics started off with the lead in the first.

Three, one-out singles in a row loaded the bases for Maddie Bowes, who brought in both of Carlow's runs with a single to centerfield.

Neither team would get a runner past second base before Carlow added another run in the top of the fourth.

Cartieri led off with a single, and a sacrifice bunt moved her over to second. Giles drew a two-out walk, and Niglio singled to load the bases. Francesca Beighley hit an RBI single to left field to put the Celtics ahead, 3-0.

The Hawks saw runners in scoring position in the bottom of the inning, but Carlow kept Hilbert off the board.

Hilbert left two Celtics stranded in the top of the fifth and cut Carlow's lead to one in the bottom half of the frame. A double and an error brought in the first unearned run, and a two-out single to centerfield scored the second unearned run for the Hawks.

The Hawks made it out of the sixth unscathed and mounted their comeback in the bottom of the inning. Hilbert scored four unearned runs on four hits and an error to take a 6-3 lead heading into the seventh.

A walk, an error and a single loaded the bases before Hilbert picked up its second out with a force play at home.

Jillian Durst hit an infield single to bring in a run, and Niglio drew a walk to cut Hilbert's advantage to 6-5; however, the Hawks secured a fly ball for the final out of the game.

Beighley went 3 for 5 with a double and an RBI to lead the Celtics. Pollinger hit 2 for 4 and DePrater went 2 for 3 in the effort at the plate.

Tatum Wiggs was tabbed with the loss after allowing five hits and four unearned runs with a strikeout and three walks in five innings of work.

Sam Tressler allowed two unearned runs on two hits, and Giles allowed one hit in one inning.

Samantha Heppel earned the win for the Hawks, allowing four earned runs on 12 hits with four strikeouts and three walks. Kailey Stolowski made the save after recording the final out. The Hawks left 12 Carlow runners stranded on the basepaths in the game. Makenna Smith went 2 for 4 with an RBI and Emma Gionta doubled at the plate.

The Celtics hit the road for a 3 p.m. make-up doubleheader at Pitt Greensburg April 15.