Softball ends regular season with split at Mount Aloysius

CRESSON, Pa. --- Carlow University softball concluded its regular season with a split at Mount Aloysius College in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference action Wednesday.

The Celtics ended the season 17-23 overall and an even 8-8 in the AMCC. The Mounties ended 17-14 and 10-6 in the conference.

Game 1: L, 10-3

Mounties pitcher Jessica Koptcho tossed a four-hitter with 18 strikeouts to lead Mount Aloysius to victory in the first game.

Tatum Wiggs (Boron, Calif./Boron HS) went 2 for 3 and drove in all three runs for the Celtics.

Koptcho struck out Carlow in order through three innings, but the Celtics were first to land a run on the board in the top of the fourth.

Two errors put runners on the corners, and Wiggs singled to bring in the unearned run.

The Mounties gained the lead in the bottom half of the frame. With two outs on the board, Mount Aloysius hit four singles in a row to go ahead, 2-1, and a triple in the next at-bat gave the Mounties a 4-1 lead.

Both teams retired the side in the fifth, and Carlow cut Mount Aloysius' advantage to one in the top of the sixth.

Fran Beighley (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum Senior HS) hit a one-out single, and McKenna Pierce (Leechburg, Pa./Leechburg Area HS) doubled to put runners on the corners for the Celtics. Wiggs hit a two-out single to bring them both around, but the Mounties countered again in the bottom of the inning.

Five singles in a row brought in two runs, and a bases-loaded walk added another to give the Mounties a 7-3 lead. An infield fly and a subsequent error allowed two unearned runs across, and another single added the final run for Mount Aloysius, ahead 10-3. Koptcho struck out the side to end the game.

Anna Schumacher (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin HS) suffered the loss after allowing seven earned runs on 11 hits with two strikeouts and a walk in five innings. Wiggs pitched the final inning, allowing one earned run on four hits with a walk.

Sarah Henninger went 4 for 4 with a double and four RBI to lead the Mounties at the plate.

Game 2: W, 10-7

Carlow ended the regular season on a high note with a win in the nightcap.

Haley Bicko (Johnstown, Pa./Greater Johnstown HS) hit a lead-off single in the first and stole second to get the inning going. Beighley singled and stole second to put runners on second and third, and Mackenzie Egley (Shelocta, Pa./Armstrong HS) was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

A walk brought a run across, and a two-run single from Wiggs put Carlow ahead, 3-0. Megan Pollinger (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny Senior HS) hit a sacrifice fly to right field to give the Celtics a 4-0 advantage.

The Mounties quickly tied the game, as two doubles, two singles and a triple scored four runs in the bottom half of the frame.

The Celtics added four more in the top of the second, with Bicko hitting a lead-off double. Beighley hit an RBI single to put Carlow up 5-4, and Egley doubled in the next at-bat.

Pierce hit a two-run single, and Pollinger added a one-out RBI single before the Mounties escaped the inning, trailing 8-4.

Three hits scored a run for Mount Aloysius in the bottom of the inning, and Carlow added another run off three singles in a row in the fourth.

A double, an error, a sacrifice fly and a single added two unearned runs for the Mounties in the bottom of the sixth, trailing Carlow, 9-7.

The Celtics added an insurance run with an RBI single from Egley in the top of the seventh and retired the Mounties in order in the bottom half of the frame to secure the win.

Bicko earned the complete game win in the circle, allowing six earned runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts and three walks. She helped her own cause by going 4 for 5 with a double at the plate.

Egley went 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI, while Pierce and Wiggs brought in three runs each.

Sierra Walters suffered the loss after giving up nine earned runs on 11 hits with two strikeouts and three walks in three innings of work. Koptcho pitched the remainder of the game with one earned run on three hits, five strikeouts and three walks.

Henninger went 3 for 3 with a triple and two doubles, and Whitney Cole went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI.

The Celtics wait to see if they will make the cut for the 2025 USCAA Small College World Series during Bid Day on Monday, May 5 at noon.