Cresson, PA - The Mount Aloysius softball team solidified its positioning in the postseason tournament seeding on Wednesday with a 2 game sweep of Penn State Altoona. They used strong pitching performances in both games to pick up a 9-1 win in the first game and 4-1 in the second.

Kara Pisczek (Johnstown, PA/Conemaugh Township) started game 1 for the Mounties and was dominant. She allowed 1 unearned run on 3 hits, pitching all 6 innings in the run-rule shortened game. She also struck out 7 batters. The three hits Pisczek allowed were in the 1st, 4th and 5th innings, with all of them being singles that did not bring in the run. The dominant performance moves Pisczek to 6-1 on the season. 

As Pisczek was shutting down the Lions, The Mountie offense piled on early to jump out to a 6 run lead after two innings. They scored 1 run in the first inning as Lydia DeFazio (Harrison City, PA/Penn Trafford) drilled a 2 out double to left field to bring in Pisczek, who led off the game with a walk. The Mounties then used 3 hits, 2 errors and a hit batter to score 5 in their second at bat. Brianna Benscoter (Bloomsburg, PA/Bloomsburg) started the rally with a one out single to center and advanced to third when Penn State Altoona committed a throwing error on an Abby Reitz (Greencastle, PA/Greencastle Antrim) ground ball. After a fielder's choice left the Mounties with runners on 1st and 3rd with two outs, Pisczek helped her own cause with a two out single to left field to bring in Reitz. The Mounties loaded the bases when Kate Little (Asheville, PA/Penn Cambria) was hit by a pitch, but quickly unloaded them as Kayla Hopkins (Canonsburg, PA/Canon McMillan) doubled to center field to score 3. Hopkins scored in the next at bat when the Penn State Altoona outfield misplayed a fly ball.

The Mounties responded to the Lions putting a run on the board with the help of 2 errors in the top of the 5th with a run of their own in the bottom half. With two outs Reitz singled the other way to right field to bring in the 7th Mountie run and restore the 6 run lead. Pisczek threw a 1-2-3 6th inning and the Mounties were able to close the game in the bottom half of the inning. In her first action since an injury in the first inning of the season, Hannah Ruby (Belleville, PA/Mifflin County) ripped a single into left field to start the inning. DeFazio walked with one out to put runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 down and Emily Cochran (Natrona Heights, PA/Highlands) drove a double to left field. The first run scored easily however what looked to be the game ending run was cut down at the plate. Despite the out at home, the Mounties did not have to wait long to finish the game as Karlie Clark (Yukon, PA/Yough) singled to center to score Cochran and finish the contest. 

The Mounties used a balanced attack in the game that saw all but one starter reach base. Reitz and Benscoter finished with 2 hits a piece, while Hopkins did the most damage with her 3 RBI double.

The second game of the day did not start as fast offensively for Mount Aloysius, but more strong pitching performances from Clark and Cochran allowed the offense to catch up and move ahead. Clark was the starting pitcher in the game. She went 3 innings and did not allow a hit, but did walk 3 batters and run a higher pitch count despite not allowing a hit. She was replaced by her fellow freshman, Cochran, who was equally dominant. In her 4 innings of work, Cochran set the side down in order 3 times, but allowed a run on two hits, a double and a two out single, in the top of the 6th inning. 

The Mountie offense got kick started in the 3rd inning. Courtney Link (Ebensburg, PA/Bishop Carroll) started things off by beating out an infield single to second base. She scored a batter later when Pisczek drilled a double into the left center field gap. She would score 3 batters later when DeFazio ripped a two out single through the left side of the infield.

The final two runs for the Mounties scored in the 4th. Reitz singled with one out and then moved to second on a ground ball. With two down, Link doubled to left center to bring in Reitz. She scored a batter later on a heads up base running play, as Pisczek reached on an error and Link hustled around from second base to slide in ahead of the throw. 

Cochran got the win for her 4 innings of relief work. Her record is now 8-1 on the season. Link finished the game 3 for 3 and scored 2 of the Mountie runs. Reitz also collected 2 more hits on the day, recording her second multi-hit performance of the day. 

The wins move the Mounties to 27-8 on the season with a 13-3 record in conference play. They are currently in 2nd place in the conference, just 1 game behind first place Penn State Behrend. They will play their final regular season games on Saturday, as they host Pitt-Bradford, starting at 1:00 PM.