Cresson, PA - The Mount Aloysius Baseball team began its postseason play with a split in the first two games of a best of three series against Alfred State. They fell in the first game 5-1, and came back to win the second game 14-13.

Michael McCourt (Mullica Hill, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) was the starting pitcher for the Mounties and saw early success. He threw a perfect first and got a 6-4-3 double play to get out of trouble in the second. The Mounties were unable to capitalize on the start by McCourt and fell behind the Pioneers in the 3rd. Alfred State scored 4 runs on 4 hits in the inning including 3 runs scoring on two run on multiple 2-out hits along with an error. 

The Mounties were able to pull one back in the 4th. Matthew McCourt (Mullica Hill, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) singled to left to lead off the inning and then moved to third on a single up the middle from Douglas Smith (Massapequa, NY/Massapequa). Nicholas Belka (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) then brought in the run as he hit a sacrifice fly to right field. The Pioneers restored the 4 run cushion in the 6th on a triple to left center and a squeeze bunt.

Down 4 in the 7th the Mounties were able to attempt a rally but were unable to score. Patrick Mahon (Pittsburgh, PA/Allegheny CC) led off with a pinch hit single to center and then moved to second on a single to right from Ryan Leonard (James Creek, PA/Tussey Mountain). After a pop up, Jeremy Iellimo (Arnold, PA/Valley Area) singled up the middle to load the bases. The Mounties saw a runner forced out at the plate and with two out saw McCourt hit a high fly to center that was caught to end the game.

Mike McCourt allowed 4 earned runs on 11 hits and 2 walks in 7 innings. He was given the loss to move his record to 6-2 on the season. Smith was the only Mountie to record a multiple hit game as he finished 2 for 2 in the game.

As the Mounties moved to the second games, things did not start off well, as they fell behind early. Starting pitcher Ryan McElwee (Centre Hall, PA/Penns Valley) was removed for injury after allowing the first four batters to reach. Douglas Cannon (Valencia, PA/Mars Area) took over and saw two inherited runners score before getting out of the inning. The Mounties pulled one back right away as Sam Keibler (Kittaning,PA/Kittaning) hit a two out double to center, and then came around on a single up the middle from Iellimo. Alfred State was able to pull the run back right away as they scored with a single, sacrifice bunt and another single. 

Down 4-1 the Mounties came through and tied the game at 4 in the second. The Mounties drew two walks to start the inning and saw them score after a passed ball and a single to right. With two down, the Mounties got back to back singles from Smith and Keibler to load the bases. Iellimo was then hit by a pitch to bring in the tying run. Despite tying the game, the Mounties were unable to hold onto momentum as the Pioneers loaded the bases without recording an out and hit a long grand slam to left field. After another walk and bunt single, Cannon was replaced by Nick Lagnese (North Huntingdon, PA/Norwin). Lagnese allowed a single to bring in a 9th run, but then got the next three batters out, with another run scoring on a groundout, to end the inning with Alfred up 10-4.

In the 4th, the Mounties started another comeback. Matt McCourt and Smith were both hit by a pitch to start the inning and advanced a base on a Keibler single to center. Iellimo then chased starting pitcher and AMCC ERA leader Garrett Mack with a double down the left field line to bring in two. Belka cut the lead to three with a sac fly to right field and Leonard brought in one more with a single down the right field line. After Lagnese threw a shutdown 5th Inning, the Mounties were able to put up another big inning to move ahead. Aaron Shinn (Woodbridge, VA/CD Hylton) singled through the left side to lead off the 5th and then Matt McCourt drilled a long home run to right center field to tie the game at 10. The Mounties then continued the inning by loading the bases with two free passes and an error. A second error brought in the go ahead run and then Daniel Singer (St. Mary's, PA/Elk County Catholic) dropped down a suicide squeeze to put the Mounties up 2.

Lagnese cruised into the 7th when he gave up 3 runs on 3 hits, a hit by pitch and a wild pitch. Dylan Coyle (Canonsburg, PA/Canon-McMillan) entered the game with the bases loaded and got out of the jam with a cue shot ground ball to first. The Mounties were unable to score in the 7th, but thanks to a 123 inning from Coyle in the 8th, were able to retake the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Singer singled to center to start the 8th and then moved to 2nd on a sacrifice bunt. After a strike out, Matt McCourt was intentionally walked to bring up Smith. The catcher drilled a line drive off the 404 sign in centerfield to bring both runs around to give the Mounties the lead. 

Armed with a 1 run lead, Coyle retook the Mound in the 9th looking to extend the Mounties' season. He quickly ran into trouble as he allowed a lead off double, and saw the the runner move to third after a fly ball to right. He was able to get a pop up to the catcher to move one out away from the win. He was able to get the next two batters to two strike counts but could not put them away as he loaded the bases with two walks. With two down and bases loaded, Coyle got the final out on a fly ball to left field to close out the game.

Coyle picked up the win for his 2 and 1/3 innings of relief work. His record is now 4-2 on the year. Lagnese also put in a strong performance, letting the Mounties get back in the game. He finished with 4 and 2/3 innings pitched allowing 3 runs on 6 hits, all three coming in his final at bat. Smith and Keibler both finished 3 for 5 in the game and Iellimo finished 2 for 4 with 4 runs batted in. 

The Mounties are now 26-14 on the season. They will play a single 9 inning game against Alfred State on Sunday with the winner moving on to the next round of the AMCC Tournament.