Softball splits with Waynesburg in home opener

MUNHALL, Pa. --- Carlow University softball split a doubleheader with Waynesburg University at West Field Monday night.

The Celtics (2-8) snapped a six-game losing streak with a 6-3 win over the Yellow Jackets (11-2) in the first game but fell to Waynesburg 14-6 in the nightcap.

Game 1: W, 6-3

Senior Megan Pollinger (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny Senior HS) blasted two home runs over the left field fence in the first and third innings to put the Celtics ahead 3-0. A lead-off single from Fran Beighley (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum Senior HS) and a sacrifice bunt put a runner on second for Carlow. Pollinger stepped to the plate with two outs on the board and cleared the bases – and the left field fence by several feet – with a home run.

Carlow retired the Jackets in order in the top of the second and left two runners stranded in the top of the third.

Pollinger's second home run was a two-out solo shot over the left field fence. A double from Tatum Wiggs (Boron, Calif./Boron HS) kept the inning going, but Waynesburg closed the inning with a pop out.

Two hits and an error brought a run across for the Jackets in the fifth, and Carlow responded with three runs in the bottom half of the frame. Haley Bicko (Johnstown, Pa./Greater Johnstown HS) started the inning with a lead-off double to left-center field, and Mackenzie Egley (Shelocta, Pa./Armstrong HS) followed with a single to left. Pollinger reached on an error to load the bases, and a ground out to second base from Wiggs brought Bicko home. McKenna Pierce (Leechburg, Pa./Leechburg Area HS) drew a walk to load the bases once again, and Taylor Egley (Shelocta, Pa./Armstrong HS) singled down the left field line to bring in two more runs before Waynesburg pitcher Syndey Wilson recorded two strikeouts to end the inning.

Trailing 6-1, a single, a triple and a sacrifice fly to center field brought two home for the Jackets in the top of the seventh, but Bicko slammed the door with two ground outs to end the game.

Bicko earned the complete game win, allowing three earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts and a walk. Pollinger went 3 for 4 with three RBI.

Meysa Heitmann went 2 for 4 with two RBI for the Jackets, and Autumn Stemple was saddled with the loss after allowing five earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts and two walks in four innings of work.

Game 2: L, 14-6

The Celtics struggled against a barrage of 16 hits from Waynesburg in the nightcap.

A walk, a double and a single brought in two runs for the Jackets to start the game before Carlow tied it up in the bottom of the inning.

Beighley drew a walk, and Bicko hit a double to left field to put runners on the corners for the Celtics. Mackenzie Egley singled up the middle to bring them home, and Waynesburg escaped the inning with three quick outs.

Five hits tacked on three runs for the Jackets in the top of the second, and Waynesburg retired the Celtics in order in the bottom half of the frame. Carlow returned the favor in the top of the third and Waynesburg left two runners stranded in scoring position to keep the Celtics off the board.

Two hits and two costly errors afforded the Jackets four runs (one earned) in the fourth, handing Waynesburg a 9-2 lead.

A single, an error and a one-out wild pitch put runners on second and third for Carlow in the bottom of the inning. Taylor Egley hit a two-run single to right field to see the Celtics trailing by five heading into the fifth.

A triple from Pollinger and a sacrifice fly to center field by Wiggs drove in a run in the fifth, and a single and a walk set up Wiggs again in the sixth. She singled up the middle to bring in another run for Carlow, now trailing by three heading into the top of the seventh.

Waynesburg put the game away with five runs on four hits and an error in the top of the seventh, and afforded Carlow just one hit in the final at-bat to end the game.

Wiggs suffered the loss in the circle after allowing five earned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and a walk in 2.1 innings of work. Taylor Egley hit 2 for 4 with two RBI, Pollinger went 2 for 3 with a triple and Bicko hit 2 for 4 with a double in the effort at the plate. Mackenzie Egley and Wiggs contributed two RBI apiece.

Sydney Wilson earned the complete game win for the Jackets, allowing five earned runs on nine hits with six strikeouts and five walks. She helped her own cause by going 4 for 4 with a double and three RBI. Sydney Petrowski went 3 for 5 with four RBI, and Alyssa Rager hit 3 for 5 with three RBI.

The Celtics travel to Penn State Beaver for a 1 p.m. doubleheader March 22.