ALFRED, N.Y. -- On Saturday, the Mount Aloysius Softball team traveled to Alfred State to take on the Pioneers in the final two regular season games. They were able to earn a split, landing them solidly in the #3 position in the upcoming AMCC Tournament.

Leaders
- Ella Pearson (Tyrone, Pa., Tyrone) went 5-for-8 on the day, scoring each time she reached base.
- Whitney Cole (McDonald, Pa., South Fayette) also had a successful day at the plate, after going 1-for-3 in Game One, she exploded in Game Two, going 4-for-4.
- In the circle, Traci Hauser (Cherry Tree, Pa., Harmony) pitched 7.0 innings in Game Two, while striking out 10 batters and giving up one run. The victory was her sixth of the season.

How It Happened
Game One
- Mount Aloysius jumped ahead in the top of the first, when Pearson led off the game with a single. After stealing second, she was brought home on an RBI single by Cole, giving the Mounties a 1-0 lead.
- Neither team scored in the second, where Pearson again singled to lead off the inning in the third. Makayla Weyant (Bedford, PA, Chestnut Ridge) and Cole each hit sacrifice flies to move Pearson to third, where she was driven in on an RBI triple by Tawnya Holben (Pittsburgh, PA, Fox Chapel). 2-0 Mounties.
- Alfred State scored the only run in the fourth or fifth innings, sending the game to the sixth, 2-1.  drove in the third Mountie run, when she doubled to center field, putting them up 3-1 heading to the bottom of the sixth.
- In the bottom of the sixth, the Pioneers scored five runs on five hits and an error, giving them a 6-3 lead, heading to the final frame. The Mounties tied the game when  reached on an infield single to drive in Pearson, giving them two runners on with two outs. Unforunately they were unable to push another run across, falling 6-4.

Game Two
- The pitching duel kept the teams scoreless over the first two innings. But in the top of the third, Pearson hit her first career homerun, giving the Mounties a 1-0 lead.
- Alfred State tied the game in the bottom of the third, on a sacrifice fly. Mount Aloysius responded scoring in the top of the fourth when Lexi Wilt (Shanksville, PA, Shanksville-Stonycreek) singled to score Emily Cochran (Natrona Heights, PA, Highlands), who led off the inning with a single. 2-1 Mounties
- In the top of the sixth, with two outs, Wilt singled and was followed by Pearson who doubled, giving them runners on second and third. Weyant followed that with a single, driving in both runs to give the Mounties a 4-1 lead.
- Mount Aloysius would add one more run, in the seventh, when Maya Capozzoli (Camp Hill, Pa., Cedar Cliff) doubled to left field, scoring Alaney Vereshack (Smokerun, Pa., Glendale) from first base. Hauser induced three straight popups in the bottom of the seventh to secure the victory.

Into the Box Scores
- After being outhit in Game One, 14-9, the Mounties significantly outhit the Pioneers in Game Two, 13-4.
- Mount Aloysius used a majority of their bench in the two games, using 16 players in Game One and 15 players in Game Two. Alfred State only used nine players in each game.

Up Next
- Mount Aloysius earned the #3 seed in the AMCC Tournament. They finished 10-6, in a tie with Medaille, but finished ahead of the Mavericks due to beating them twice during the regular season.
- The #5 and #6 spots are still being determined, but the Mounties will face the #6 seed on Friday morning.
- Penn State Behrend finished as the #1 seed, earning hosting rights for the AMCC Tournament. The top six teams will all travel to Erie, with the tournament starting on Friday.