Ewing, NJ - Making their second ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament, the Mount Aloysius softball team picked up the program and school's first ever victory at the NCAA Tournament level. They defeated the regional host, The College of New Jersey, by a score of 2-0.

Playing against the #9 team in the country, the Mountie offense got off to a slow start, but starting pitcher Emily Cochran (Natrona Heights, PA/Highlands) was able to hold the Lions in check until the Mountie offense could score. The Mounties were able to take the lead in the top of the third. After two strikeouts to start the inning, Kara Pisczek (Johnstown, PA/Conemaugh Township) drew a walk and moved to second when Kate Little (Asheville, PA/Penn Cambria) singled into left field. Kayla Hopkins (Canonsburg, PA/Canon-McMillan) put the Mounties ahead as she singled to center to bring in Pisczek. Lydia DeFazio (Harrison City, PA/Penn Trafford) singled to load the bases but the Mounties were unable to tack any more runs on. 

Cochran breeze through the 3rd inning but ran into trouble in the 4th. After allowing a leadoff walk, she got two outs and walked a batter. With two down and two out, she was replaced by Pisczek, who was able to get a ground ball back to the circle to end the threat. Using the momentum from the 4th, the Mounties doubled their lead in the 5th through another two out rally. Hopkins singled through the left side. A walk to DeFazio and a single from Cochran loaded the bases. Brianna Benscoter (Bloomsburg, PA/Bloomsburg) then drew a bases loaded walk to force home Hopkins and put the Mounties up 2. 

Pisczek was able to get out of a bases loaded jam in the 5th and worked around a leadoff double in the 6th to set the Mounties up for the final inning. In the 7th, the Mounties were able to load the bases again, but were unable to add on another run. Pisczek returned to the circle and quickly got two outs on a fly out to left and a pop up to second base. After a single through the left side, she got the next batter to swing through strike three to end the game. 

Pisczek (10-1) picked up the win as she threw 3 and 1/3 innings, allowing no runs on 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 2. Cochran had a very strong start despite the no decision, allowing 0 runs on 3 hits and a walk in 3 and 2/3 innings. Hopkins finished the game 3 for 4, scoring a run and driving in the other. DeFazio, Cochran and Benscoter all finished with multi-hit games as well. 

The Mounties 33-8 move onto the winner's bracket game on Saturday. They will take on Randolph-Macon at 11:00 AM with the winner advancing to the Regional Final.