Another walk-off and a run-rule game for Softball against Pitt Bradford

MUNHALL, Pa. --- Carlow University softball swept Pitt Bradford in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference action at West Field Monday morning.

The Celtics (12-18, 5-3 AMCC) earned a 3-2 win in the first game with a walk-off, and defeated the Panthers (7-19, 3-5 AMCC) 9-1 in five innings in the second game.

Game 1: W, 3-2 (8 inn.)

Carlow tied the game in the bottom of the seventh and defeated Pitt Bradford with a walk-off win in the bottom of the eighth.

A walk and a triple scored the Panthers' first run in the top of the first, and Carlow held Pitt Bradford scoreless for the next six innings.

Pitcher Haley Bicko (Johnstown, Pa./Greater Johnstown HS) scattered four hits through six innings, and the Celtics pounded out eight hits, but the Panthers were able to prevent Carlow from scoring until the bottom of the seventh.

Fran Beighley (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum Senior HS) hit a one-out single to reach base, and Megan Pollinger (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny Senior HS) struck a two-out single up the middle to score the tying run. Pitt Bradford picked up the final out before the Celtics could add another, and the game moved into extra innings with the international tie-breaker rule.

A sacrifice bunt and a single through the left side put the Panthers ahead, 2-1, before the Celtics turned a double play, catching the runner at first too far off the bag with a pop fly to shortstop.

Lexi Berta (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic) took her place at second base in the bottom half of the frame, and Mackenzie Egley (Shelocta, Pa./Armstrong HS) moved her over to third with a sacrifice bunt.

A sacrifice fly to center field off the bat of Anna Schumacher (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin HS) allowed Berta to score easily and tied the game 2-2. Taylor Egley (Shelocta, Pa./Armstrong HS) and Emilee Speicher (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Thomas Jefferson HS) each hit two-out singles, and an error in the next at-bat loaded the bases for Beighley. Beighley came through with the clutch hit to right field to win the game in a walk-off.

Bicko improved to 6-8 on the year with the complete game win in the circle. She allowed one earned run on six hits with three strikeouts and a walk.

Beighley hit 4 for 5 with an RBI, and Taylor Egley went 3 for 4. Speicher and McKenna Pierce (Leechburg, Pa./Leechburg Area HS) each hit 2 for 4 on the day.

Christa Koagel was saddled with the loss after allowing the go-ahead run in the eighth. She allowed one earned run on five hits with two strikeouts in 2.2 innings of work. Sara Stroup hit 2 for 4 with a triple and two RBI.

Game 2: W, 9-1 (5 inn.)

The Celtics wasted no time in the second game, pounding out 10 hits to secure a run-rule victory.

A two-out double and an RBI single scored Pitt Bradford's lone run of the game in the top of the first.

Speicher recorded the final two outs of the second inning, making a catch over her shoulder on the run in right field that allowed Carlow to end the inning unscathed.

Pollinger led the way in the third, putting Carlow on the board with a two-out, three-run home run over the left field fence that put the Celtics ahead, 3-1.

The Celtics escaped a bases-loaded situation in the fourth and added six runs in the bottom half of the frame. Carlow took advantage of five hits and two walks to tack on six runs, and retired Pitt Bradford in order in the top of the fifth to secure the win.

Tatum Wiggs (Boron, Calif./Boron HS) earned the complete game win, allowing one earned run on seven hits with four strikeouts and a walk. She helped her own cause at the plate, going 2 for 3 with two RBI.

Pollinger hit 2 for 2 with four RBI, and Bicko went 2 for 3.

Krislyn Clement suffered the loss for the Panthers after allowing five earned runs on seven hits with a strikeout and a walk in 3.2 innings. Clement also recorded Pitt Bradford's lone RBI.

The Celtics travel to Penn State Behrend for an AMCC doubleheader April 17.