Pittsburgh, PA - The Mount Aloysius softball team scored 30 runs in 4 separate innings to sweep La Roche in AMCC play on Tuesday. They won game 1 by a score of 14-8 and game 2 in 5 innings by a score of 16-1.

The Mounties got off to a slow start in game one, as they collected 4 hits through their first 4 at bats, but were unable to string them together to score any runs and found themselves down 2-0 heading into the 5th. The Mountie bats exploded in the 5th, scoring 9 runs on 9 hits and 2 errors. The Mounties loaded the bases with one out and Brianna Benscoter (Bloomsburg, PA/Bloomsburg) drove in 2 with a double to center. After an error on the centerfielder on the same play, the third runner and Benscoter scored to put the Mounties up 4-2. The Mounties restarted their offense right away. Samantha Smith (Trafford, PA/Penn-Trafford) brought in another run with a single to left. Kate Little (Asheville, PA/Penn Cambria) brought in two runs with a single to center and scored a batter later on an error. Emily Cochran (Natrona Heights, PA/Highlands) brought in the final run of the inning, driving a single to left.

La Roche was able to pull 2 runs back in the bottom of the 5th, but the Mounties responded by scoring 5 more in the 6th. Abby Reitz (Greencastle, PA/Greencastle Antrim) started the rally with a 1 out double to left, and moved to third on a ground out. With two outs, the Mounties recorded 6 straight hits with two outs. Smith collected the first hit with a single to right to bring in Reitz. Little picked up an infield single and then Kayla Hopkins (Canonsburg, PA/Canon McMillan) singled through the left side to bring in the second run of the inning. Lydia DeFazio (Harrison City, PA/Penn-Trafford) followed that up with a double to center field to bring in two. Cochran continued the rally with an infield single and Benscoter finished it off bringing in the final run on a single to right. 

The Redhawks were able to chip into the lead with 4 runs in the bottom of the 6th, but Cochran was able to finish off hte game and pick up the win. Cochran allowed 6 earned runs on 12 hits and 3 walks. She picked up her 6th win of the year. Cochran along with DeFazio led the way offensively, as they both finished 4 for 5.

Karlie Clark (Yukon, PA/Yough) started game 2 for the Mounties. She allowed one run on two hits in the first inning, but quickly settled down, allowing only 3 hits for the remainder of the game. While Clark was shutting down the Redhawk offense, the Mounties quickly took control of the game in the second inning. In the frame, the Mounties used 6 hits and 2 errors to score 6 runs, all coming with two outs. After the first two batters of the inning were retired, Benscoter tripled to left field, and was driven in by Kara Pisczek (Johnstown, PA/Conemaugh Township) on a single to center. Reitz continued the rally with a single the other way to right, and Smith gave the Mounties the lead with a single to center. With the bases loaded, Little singled to center to bring in two, and a third run scored on an error in center field. Finally DeFazio capped off the scoring with an RBI single to left field. 

After a scoreless 3rd, the Mounties struck big again with 10 runs in the 4th. Courtney Link (Ebensburg, PA/Bishop Carroll) brought in the first run with a single to center, and DeFazio brought in another with a single to center. The Mounties scored 3 runs on 2 errors and a walk, and Pisczek provided the big blow of the inning as she hit a bases loaded triple to add 3 more. Reitz followed that up with another triple to right and then scored the final run on a RBI ground out from Smith.

Clark shut down the La Roche attack in the 4th and 5th as the Mounties won the game in 5 innings. Clark picked up her 5th win of the season, allowing 1 run on 5 hits while striking out 6 batters. Reitz went 3 for 3 in the game while Pisczek went 2 for 3 with 4 RBIs. 

The win moved the Mounties to 19-4 on the season with a 6-0 record in AMCC play. They will be back in action on Saturday as they host Hilbert College at 1:00 PM.