Softball drops two AMCC contests at Penn State Altoona

ALTOONA, Pa. --- Carlow University softball lost an Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference doubleheader at Penn State Altoona Wednesday.

The losses dropped the Celtics to 7-17 overall and 1-3 in AMCC action, while the Lions (16-8) improved to an unbeaten 6-0 in the conference.

Game 1: L, 5-2

McKenna Pierce (Leechburg, Pa./Leechburg Area HS) scored Carlow's only runs of the game with a home run over the center field fence in the third inning. Haley Bicko (Johnstown, Pa./Greater Johnstown HS) hit a one-out single up the middle, and Pierce cleared the bases in the next at-bat to give the Celtics a 2-1 lead.

After retiring Carlow in order, the Lions regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Two singles and a double down the right field line tied the game, and a two-out single to right field brought in two more runs before the Celtics escaped the inning with a fly out.

Fran Beighley (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum Senior HS) led off the top of the fifth with a double down the left field line, but Altoona picked up three quicks outs to leave her stranded on base.

Altoona scored its final run of the game in the bottom half of the frame. An error allowed a runner on, and a single put runners on the corners for the Lions. A sacrifice fly to left field in the next at-bat allowed the unearned run across.

Mackenzie Egley (Shelocta, Pa./Armstrong HS) went 2 for 3, while Beighley and Bicko each hit 2 for 4. Bicko was saddled with the loss after allowing four earned runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and one walk in the complete game effort.

Madison Kennedy hit 2 for 3 with a double and two RBI, and pitcher Josselyn Nau earned the win after allowing two earned runs on eight hits with two strikeouts.

Game 2: L, 7-3

The Lions recorded 13 hits in the nightcap, and the Celtics were unable to capitalize on three Altoona errors in the loss.

Once again, the Celtics took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third. An error, a single and a ground out put runners on second and third for Carlow. Egley hit an RBI ground out to second base, and Tatum Wiggs (Boron, Calif./Boron HS) singled up the middle to bring in two runs for the Celtics.

The Lions quickly regained the lead in the bottom half of the frame. Three singles and two doubles all in a row brought in four runs for Altoona to put them ahead, 5-2.

Carlow walked in another run in the fourth, and a one-out double put the Lions up 7-2 in the fifth.

Back-to-back singles and a fielder's choice placed runners on the corners for Carlow in the top of the seventh. Egley singled up the middle to drive in another run, but the Lions recorded the final out of the inning in the next at-bat to secure the win.

Beighley went 2 for 4 and Pierce hit 1 for 3 with a double in the effort at the plate. Wiggs suffered the loss after allowing four earned runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and a walk in 2.1 innings. Samantha Tressler (Brownsville, Pa./Brownsville Area HS) allowed two earned runs on four hits with two walks in 1.2 innings, and Anna Schumacher (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin HS) pitched the final two innings with two hits, two strikeouts and a walk.

Kennedy earned the win for the Lions, allowing one earned run on seven hits with three strikeouts and a walk. Hanna Lauck hit 2 for 3 with a double and two RBI and Karli Storm went 2 for 3 with a double and three RBI.

The Celtics travel to Bethany (W.Va.) College for a 3:30 p.m. doubleheader tomorrow.