Stayin’ alive: Softball goes 2-0 on second day of USCAA Small College World Series

DUBOIS, Pa. --- Carlow University softball knocked off the No. 5- and No. 8-seed teams to keep its championship hopes alive at the USCAA Small College World Series Tuesday.

Game 1 vs. Bay Path: W, 9-0

Senior Clara Niglio tossed a three-hit shutout with seven strikeouts, and the Celtics (15-24) pounded 14 hits in an upset over No. 5-seed Bay Path (Mass.) University in the 10 a.m. elimination game. She helped her own cause by going 4 for 5 at the plate with a triple and an RBI.

Francesca Beighley hit 3 for 5 with two doubles, and Megan Pollinger went 3 for 5 with a double and two RBI.

The Celtics put three runs on the board in the first inning after two singles and a walk loaded the bases. The Wildcats (21-18) walked in Carlow's first run, and Maddie Bowes hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring in the second. A hit batter loaded the bases once again, allowing Jillian Durst to single through the left side and bring in the third run of the inning.

Beighley led off the second inning with a double to left field, and Niglio followed with a triple to left center to put Carlow ahead, 4-0. McKenna Pierce singled up the middle to bring Niglio home, and the Wildcats turned a double play to end the inning.

The Celtics retired Bay Path in order in the bottom half of the frame, and Tatum Wiggs hit a one-out, RBI single up the middle to give Carlow a 6-0 lead in the top of the third.

Niglio added a one-out single in the top of the sixth, and Pollinger brought her in with a double to left field. Bay Path made it out of another bases-loaded jam, trailing 7-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth.

Carlow retired the Wildcats in order in the bottom of the inning and added two more runs in the top of the seventh. Beighley hit a two-out double to left field, making her way to third on a wild pitch. Niglio singled in the next at-bat and put runners on second and third after taking advantage of another wild pitch, and Pollinger singled through the left side to bring Beighley home. During the next at-bat, Bay Path caught Pollinger stealing second but not before the home plate umpire ruled that Niglio crossed the plate before the final out. Niglio secured the win with a ground out and two big strikeouts to end the game.

Isabella Ferrara suffered the loss in the circle after allowing five earned runs on six hits with a strikeout and three walks in two innings.

Game 2 vs. SMCC: W, 8-4

The win over Bay Path afforded the Celtics a second chance against Southern Maine Community College in the 6 p.m. elimination game. Carlow strung together nine hits and took advantage of four errors to send the No. 8-seed Seawolves home.

SMCC jumped out to a 2-0 advantage after tallying four hits over two innings before the Celtics assembled a five-run inning to take the lead in the top of the fourth.

Bowes hit a one-out single, and Bella Cartieri drew a walk before a fielder's choice handed SMCC its second out. Mackenzie Egley walked to load the bases, and an error in the next at-bat cut the Seawolves' lead to one.

Beighley hit a two-run single to right field, and Niglio nailed a two-run double to score four more unearned runs for the Celtics, who were now ahead, 5-2.

An RBI double from Bowes extended Carlow's lead to 6-2 in the fifth, and the Celtics turned a double play in the bottom of the inning to prevent SMCC from scoring. The runner on third attempted to score on the ground out, but Wiggs fired the ball home and Pierce tagged her before she reached the plate.

Justena Giles started off with a one-out double, Beighley singled to right and Niglio doubled down the left field line to put the Celtics ahead, 8-2, in the top of sixth.

Niglio returned to the pitching circle in the bottom of the sixth as the Celtics left a runner stranded.

The Seawolves retired Carlow in order in the top of the seventh and attempted a comeback in the bottom half of the frame.

Back-to-back singles scored a run, and a wild pitch and a one-out single to right field cut Carlow's lead to 8-4. Beighley recorded the final two outs with a line drive and a ground out to end the game.

Beighley hit 3 for 3 with two RBI and a walk, and Niglio went 2 for 4 with four RBI. Bowes also hit 2 for 4 with an RBI.

Giles earned the win in the circle after tossing 2.2 scoreless innings and allowing two hits. Wiggs started the game, allowing one earned run on six hits with three strikeouts and a walk in 2.1 innings. Niglio pitched the final two innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits.

Sarah Wilkins was saddled with the loss after allowing three earned runs on nine hits with five strikeouts and three walks in the complete game effort. Delanie Perry went 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI, and Veronica Mercier hit 2 for 3 to lead the Seawolves at the plate.

The Celtics face No. 3-seed Penn State Schuylkill at 10 a.m.