Softball splits first AMCC doubleheader of the season with Pitt Greensburg

MUNHALL, Pa. --- Carlow University softball opened Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference action with a split against Pitt Greensburg at West Field Wednesday night.

The Celtics (7-15, 1-1 AMCC) won the first game, 2-1 but fell to the Bobcats (8-12, 2-2 AMCC) in the second game, 4-3.

Game 1: W, 2-1

Tatum Wiggs (Boron, Calif./Boron HS) tossed a three-hitter with three strikeouts, and Mackenzie Egley (Shelocta, Pa./Armstrong HS) went 3 for 3 with a double and an RBI to lead Carlow to victory in the first game. The Carlow defense was stellar behind Wiggs with textbook plays on the night.

It was a pitching duel from the start, and Wiggs no-hit the Bobcats and retired them in order through three innings before allowing a hit. A two-out error and a single up the middle gave Greensburg its best opportunity in the top of the fourth, but the Celtics produced a force out at third to end the inning.

Wiggs retired the side in the fifth, and the Bobcats turned a double play in the bottom half of the frame to keep the score deadlocked at zero.

Greensburg went down in order in the sixth, and Carlow broke open its scoring opportunity in the bottom of the inning. A lead-off walk and a one-out sacrifice bunt put a runner on second for the Celtics. Egley stepped to the plate and drove in the first run of the game with a double to left-center field, and Anna Schumacher (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin HS) singled through the hole at short to bring Egley home before the Bobcats escaped the inning.

Carlow foiled Greensburg's comeback in the top of the seventh. A lead-off single, a wild pitch and a single to left field put runners on the corners for the Bobcats. Carlow allowed a run across to get one out on the board, and it worked out in their favor with a ground out and a fly out to center field to end the game.

Melanie Mienke was saddled with the loss after allowing two earned runs on four hits with seven strikeouts and four walks. Hunter Taylor recorded two of the Bobcats' three hits.

Game 2: L, 4-3

The Celtics fell behind early, and the Bobcats escaped a Carlow comeback in the bottom of the seventh to secure the victory.

The Celtics saw the bases loaded in the bottom of the first, but Greensburg got the force out at home and ended the inning with a fly out.

The Bobcats struck in the third with a two-out single and an error allowing a runner to reach third. An RBI triple and a single up the middle brought in two runs, and Greensburg retired Carlow in order in the bottom of the inning.

Greensburg scored its final two runs in the top of the fourth. A single, an error and a double to right field drove in a run, and a wild pitch allowed an unearned run across later in the inning.

McKenna Pierce (Leechburg, Pa./Leechburg Area HS) hit a lead-off triple in the bottom of the fourth, and a ground out brought her home with the Bobcats now leading, 4-1.

The Celtics had a runner on third in the bottom of the sixth, but a line drive turned into an advantageous double play for the Bobcats to end the inning.

Carlow retired Greensburg in order in the top of the seventh for one last chance at a comeback. A single and a one-out double to right field put runners on the corners for Carlow. A ground out drove in a run, and an error allowed another across. Another single put runners on first and second, but the Bobcats forced a ground out to end the game.

Haley Bicko (Johnstown, Pa./Greater Johnstown HS) suffered the loss in the circle, allowing two earned runs on three hits in 2.2 innings of work. Samantha Tressler (Brownsville, Pa./Brownsville Area HS) and Schumacher combined to the pitch the remainder of the game, with Schumacher picking up a season-high six strikeouts in 3.2 innings.

Bicko hit 2 for 3, and Schumacher helped her own cause with a double.

Paige Phillips earned the win for Greensburg, allowing two earned runs on five hits with a strikeout in four innings of work. Jadyn Davis tripled with an RBI, and Gabriella Grabiak doubled with an RBI.

The Celtics host Pitt Bradford for a 1 p.m. AMCC doubleheader April 6.