Cresson, PA - The Mount Aloysius Baseball team split an AMCC doubleheader with Alfred State on Monday afternoon. They won game 1 in wild fashion by a score of 8-7, and were defeated 18-4 in the second game.

The first game of the day started slowly, as the Mounties led the game 5-0 through five innings but saw the Pioneers come back with 7 runs in the final two frames, forcing the Mounties to win the game in comeback fashion. Michael McCourt (Mullica Hill, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) started for the Mounties and put in another strong effort. He scattered 5 hits in the first 5 innings as his teammates built a 5 run lead.

The bottom half of the lineup kick started things for the Mounties, as catcher Douglas Smith (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa) led off the third with a single to center. With 1 down, Ryan Leonard (James Creek, PA/Tussey Mountain) singled through the right side of the infield, and made a heads up running play to advance to second as the defense attempted to throw Smith out at 3rd. Smith was able to score on a passed ball, and after a hit batter, Daniel Singer (Saint Mary's, PA/Elk County Catholic) dropped down a squeeze bunt and beat the throw for a run scoring single. Matthew McCourt (Mullica Hill, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) capped off the inning, as he lined a single to right field to bring in Jeremy Iellimo (Arnold, PA/Valley Area).

Mount Aloysius was able to tack on 2 more runs to their lead in the 5th. Matt McCourt led off the inning with a triple to right field, and scored a batter later when Sam Keibler (Kittaning, PA/Kittaning) singled to right center. With the help of an error, the Mounties were able to load the bases when Aaron Shinn (Woodbridge, VA/CD Hylton) dropped down a drag bunt for a single. Smith drove in the second run on the inning, beating out a double play ball to allow Keibler to score.

Alfred State was able to pull a few back of Mike McCourt in the 6th. They scored 3 quick runs on 4 hits, a sacrifice fly and a double steal before McCourt was removed in favor of Nick Lagnese (North Huntingdon, PA/Norwin). Lagnese was able to strike out a pinch hitter to get out of the 6th with a two run lead. Mount Aloysius was able to pull one back in the 6th when Ryan Leonard picked up a bunt single to lead off the inning, and after a sacrifice bunt, took two bases on a wild pitch to score the 6th run. 

In the 7th, Lagnese saw the first two runners reach, and then allowed an RBI double to center to cut the lead to 2 runs. He was removed for Luke Stultz (New Paris, PA/Chestnut Ridge) who allowed the first batter he faced to hit a long home run to right field to put Alfred State up 1. After a pop up and a double, Douglas Cannon (Valencia, PA/Mars Area) entered the game. He walked a batter, but then got out of the inning with a strikeout and some help from his defense as Smith threw out a runner stealing to close the inning.

Needing to score in the 7th, the Mounties got a boost as Nicholas Belka (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) led off with a single. Alfred State was able to get one out on a fielders choice, but then allowed Smith to double into right center to put the winning run in scoring position. They intentionally walked pinch hitter Matthew Brown (Hustontown, PA/Forbes Road) to set the stage for some heroics from Ryan Leonard. Leonard lined a pitch into center field to bring around Shinn and Smith, giving the Mounties a walk-off win.

Despite Mike McCourt's strong start, he received a no decision due to the late Alfred State rally. He pitched 5 and 2/3 innings and allowed 3 earned runs on 9 hits and a walk. Cannon was awarded the win for getting out of the 7th before the Mounties won in the final at bat. He is now 4-2 on the season. The Mounties recorded 13 hits, and saw 9 of them come from 3 players. Matt McCourt finished 3 for 3 with a run and an RBI, Smith went 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored and an RBI, and the game winner Leonard went 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs.

The second game of the twin bill did not go as well for the Mounties. Starting pitcher Dylan Coyle (Canonsburg, PA/Canon McMillan) saw his team fall behind early as he gave up a run in the 1st inning, 3 more on 4 hits in the 3rd inning and another in the 4th on a walk, stolen base and single to right. The Mounties did show some signs of life in the 4th as they loaded the bases on 2 walks and a single. Keibler and Belka were able to bring runs home on RBI groundouts to cut the deficit to 3 runs.

Alfred State was able to score another on a two out hit in the 5th, and looked to score an additional run in the 6th, until Leonard gunned down a runner at the plate. The Mounties used the momentum from the defensive play to further chip away at the Pioneer lead. Singer drew a one out walk and moved to second on an error in the next at bat. Keibler drove in another run with a single to center, and Belka dropped down a squeeze bunt to score Matt McCourt and put the Mounties down 2. 

That was as close as Mount Aloysius would come to the Pioneers, as Alfred State responded with 5 runs in the top of the 7th. They added 7 more runs in the top of the 9th as the Mountie bullpen allowed 11 runs in 3 innings pitched. Coyle allowed 7 runs, 6 earned, in 6 innings of work. He picked up the loss, moving his record to 4-2 on the season. The Mounties were only able to muster 3 hits, one each from Singer, Keibler and Smith.

The Mounties move to 24-10 on the season with an 11-3 record in AMCC Play. They will play at local rival Penn-State Altoona on Wednesday in a conference doubleheader, with the first game starting at 1:00 PM.