Buffalo, NY - The Mount Aloysius Softball team worked through numerous rain delays on Saturday as they split a doubleheader with AMCC foe D'Youville College. They lost a late lead in game 1 to fall 3-2, but responded with a 12-7 victory in the second game.

Emily Cochran (Natrona Heights, PA/Highlands) took the circle to start game 1 for the Mounties and worked around 3 hits, 2 errors and 2 walks to keep the Spartans scoreless through 4. As Cochran was keeping D'Youville in check, the Mounties took the lead in the 3rd. Kate Little (Asheville, PA/Penn Cambria) hit a one out single to center, and after advancing to second on a groundout, scored when Lydia DeFazio drove a double down the left field line. 

Up 1-0 through 4 innings, the Mounties made a pitching change after a rain delay. Kara Pisczek (Johnstown, PA/Conemaugh Valley) entered in the 5th and worked out of trouble to keep the Spartans scoreless. The Mounties added to the lead in the 6th. Karlie Clark (Yukon, PA/Yough) led off with a double down the right field line. She scored two batters later when the D'Youville center fielder misplayed a single from Pisczek. 

Nina Shatzer (Saint Thomas, PA/James Buchanan) entered the game to pitch in the 6th, and worked around a two out triple to keep the Mounties ahead moving to the final inning. Shatzer allowed the first 3 batters to reach base in the 7th on two walks and an error. Cochran reentered the ame but struggled to recapture her control as she walked 2 batters and allowed a walk off single to end the game.

Shatzer was tagged with the loss, moving her record to 3-3 on the year. The Mounties were only able to muster 6 hits, with Kara Pisczek being the only player to record a multi-hit game, she finished 2 for 2 with a walk. 

The Mountie offense was much more potent in the second game of the doubleheader as they pounded out 15 hits to score 12 runs. They got started right away, as they pushed 4 runs across in the first inning. Pisczek started the game off with a single to left, and the Mounties then loaded the bases on a fielders choice and two walks. Kate Little was able to score the first run on a wild pitch. The final three runs of the inning came with two outs as Karlie Clark beat out an infield single to bring in the first, another run crossed on a wild pitch and the final run came in on a Tawnya Holben (Pittsburgh, PA/Fox Chapel) single. 

Karlie Clark was the starting pitcher for the Mounties, and she had trouble early. Despite the 4-0 lead, she allowed three runs to score in the bottom half of the inning on three hits and a walk. Lydia DeFazio was able to push the lead back to 3 in the 2nd inning as she drove a 2 out 2 run double to right field. With another 3 run lead Clark was able to get out of trouble in the second, but was removed after allowing another run on a walk and 2 hits. She was replaced by Shatzer who was able to get out of the 3rd without further damage. Shatzer's success would not continue in the 4th, as the Spartans were able to tie the game with a 2 run , 2 out single to center. 

The Mounties responded to the tie game in the top of the 5th, as they scored 3 runs to take the lead for good. After DeFazio was hit by a pitch and Cochran singled to center, Shatzer helped her own cause, driving a double into the right center field gap to score 2 runs. She would come around herself 2 batters later on a sacrifice fly from Brianna Benscoter (Bloomsburg, PA/Bloomsburg). Shatzer responded to the lead by putting up a 0 in the 5th, but was removed in the 6th after allowing a leadoff triple and an RBI single, cutting the lead to 2. Pisczek came moved into the circle and was able to get three quick outs to preserve the lead.

Mount Aloysius was able to create some breathing room in the top of the 7th, as they scored 3 runs on 4 hits. Holben started the inning with a one out triple to right center. Benscoter tripled to left to bring her in, and Abby Reitz (Greencastle, PA/Greencastle Antrim) drove a third consecutive three bagger to the right center gap to bring in the second run. Reitz finished the scoring in the next at bat as she scored on a wild pitch.

Pisczek returned  to the circle armed with a 5 run lead and pitched a 1-2-3 inning to close out the contest. Shatzer got her second decision of the day, picking up the win despite allowing 3 runs in 2 and 2/3 innings. Pisczek picked up a save for her effort in closing out the game. Holben and Little collected 3 hits a piece in the game, while Benscoter and Pisczek added in two each.

The split moves the Mounties to 25-8 on the season with an 11-3 record in AMCC play. They will host Penn State Altoona on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 PM.