Cresson, PA- The Mount Aloysius Softball team split its doubleheader against Hilbert on Saturday afternoon. After making a late comeback to force extra innings, the Mounties fell 7-5 in the 8th in game 1. They followed that up with a 5-0 victory in game 2 behind a Karlie Clark (Yukon, Pa/Yough) 3 hit shutout. 

The Mounties fell behind early as Hilbert scored 3 quick runs in the first inning off of starting pitcher Emily Cochran (Natrona Heights, PA/Highlands). The Mounties bats were unable to come up with a big hit early, as they left 8 runners on base through 5 innings. The Hawks were able to add on another run in the 4th via a sacrifice fly. In the 6th, the Mounties bats came alive as they scored 4 runs to tie the game. Brianna Benscoter (Bloomsburg, PA/Bloomsburg) started off the rally with a home run to left field. Abby Reitz (Greencastle, PA/Greencastle Antrim) reached on a walk and a single up the middle, before Samantha Smith (Trafford, PA/Penn-Trafford) drove a triple to center to bring them in and cut the deficit to 1 run. Kayla Hopkins (Canonsburg, PA/Canon McMillen) then came through with a clutch 2 out RBI single to tie the game.

Cochran kept the game scoreless in the 7th and gave the Mounties a chance to win the bottom of the inning. Cochran led off the inning with a single, and move to second on a Kara Pisczek (Johnstown, PA/Conemaugh Valley) single to left. Benscoter drilled a line drive down the base line that looked like a game winner, but the Hilbert third baseman made a snow cone catch to keep the game going. The Mounties were unable to get another hit in the inning and sent the game to extras. 

In the extra frame, Hilbert took advantage of the International Tiebreak rules right away. They scored 2 quick runs on back to back doubles, and a third after a pitching change on a triple to right. Down three in the 8th, the Mounties looked to rally to tie or win the game. Smith led off the inning with a walk. After a fielders choice, Hopkins singled to center field to bring in Smith and put the go ahead run at the plate. Lydia DeFazio (Harrison City, PA/Penn Trafford) was hit by a pitch to load the bases, however the final two Mounties went down swinging to finish the game. 

Cochran picked up her first loss of the year in the game, moving her record to 6-1. She pitched 7+ innings, allowing 7 runs, 6 earned, on 8 hits and 2 walks. She struck out 2 batters. Smith reached base 5 times int he game, going 2-2 with 3 walks. Kate Little (Asheville, PA/Penn Cambria), Hopkins and Benscoter all finished with 2 hits in the game. 

Clark took the circle in game two and dominated early. She held a no hitter into the 4th inning, and gave up 3 in total, and not more than one in an inning. She struck out 5 in the game as the Mounties took a few innings to get their offense going. The Mounties first runs came int he 4th. Tawnya Holben (Pittsburgh, PA/Fox Chapel) drew a lead off walk and DeFazio followed that up with a double to left. Two batters later Pisczek singled up the middle to bring them both home.

As Clark continued to shut down the Hawks, the Mounties tacked on 3 runs in the 8th. Taking advantage of another lead off walk, Benscoter doubled in the first run on a line drive to center field. The Mounties loaded the bases on another walk and an error, and scored their 4th run of the game on a walk from Holben. The final run scored on a DeFazio single that also saw the Mounties inning finish on the base paths. 

Clark finished the game with a 1-2-3 7th to pick up her 6th win of the season. DeFazio was the lone Mountie to record multiple hits, as she finished 2-3.

The split moves the Mounties record to 20-5 on the season with a 7-1 record in AMCC play. They will host Juniata College in a non-conference doubleheader on Thursday, beginning at 3:00 PM.