Softball stumbles against Alfred State in AMCC doubleheader on the road

ALFRED, N.Y. --- Carlow University softball lost an Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference doubleheader at Alfred State College Friday afternoon.

The Celtics (13-21) fell to an even 6-6 in conference action, and the games were the first two conference wins for Alfred State (6-16, 2-8 AMCC).

Game 1: L, 14-9

McKenna Pierce (Leechburg, Pa./Leechburg Area HS) pounded two home runs, but it was not enough to lift the Celtics to victory, as the Pioneers put together a huge, eight-run third inning to take the lead in the first game.

Carlow had the lead through the first two innings. A walk, a single and a ground out put runners on second and third with two outs for the Celtics in the top of the first. Mackenzie Egley (Shelocta, Pa./Armstrong HS) hit a two-run single to center field and Megan Pollinger (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny Senior HS) doubled to bring her home and put Carlow ahead, 3-0. A single and back-to-back, one-out doubles cut Carlow's lead to 3-2 in the bottom half of the frame.

Fran Beighley (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum Senior HS) hit a two-run single up the middle, and Pierce homered over the center field fence in the next at-bat to give the Celtics a 7-2 advantage.

An RBI single in the bottom of the inning saw the Pioneers trailing 7-3, and Alfred State left two Carlow runners stranded in the top of the third.

Two singles, three doubles and a three-run home run gave Alfred State an 11-7 lead before the Celtics could escape the inning.

An RBI single from Tatum Wiggs (Boron, Calif./Boron HS) in the fourth and another home run from Pierce – a solo shot over the center field fence – in the top of the sixth cut Alfred State's lead to 11-9, but the Pioneers added three insurance runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth and left two Carlow runners stranded in the seventh to secure the win.

Wiggs was saddled with the loss after allowing six earned runs on seven hits with a strikeout and two walks in 2.1 innings.

Pierce went 4 for 4 with two home runs, a double and three RBI, and Haley Bicko (Johnstown, Pa./Greater Johnstown HS) hit 4 for 4. Egley went 3 for 4 with two RBI, and Beighley hit 2 for 4 with two RBI.

Hailee Smith earned the win for the Pioneers, allowing one earned run on six hits with a strikeout and two walks in four innings. Liana Dion hit 3 for 3 with a double and two RBI, and Abigail Marinelli went 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBI.         

Game 2: L, 10-2 (6 inn.)

The Pioneers held Carlow to just four hits and scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth in a run-rule game in the nightcap.

Wiggs hit an RBI ground out in the first and Pollinger landed a sacrifice fly in the fourth to score Carlow's two runs in the game.

Alfred State led 5-2 after the fifth and left a Carlow runner stranded in the top of the sixth.

Four singles and a ground out scored four runs for the Pioneers in the bottom half of the frame, and a walk-off triple to left-center field ended the game.

Anna Schumacher (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin HS) suffered the loss after allowing seven earned runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and nine walks in five innings of work.

Marissa Ordway earned the complete game win for the Pioneers with two earned runs, a strikeout and two walks. Abbie Millard hit 3 for 3 with two doubles and two RBI, and Nicole Youngberg went 3 for 4 with a double.

The Celtics face La Roche University for a 3 p.m. AMCC doubleheader at La Roche April 22.