ERIE, Pa. -- The Mount Aloysius Softball team opened up the 2024 AMCC Tournament, on Thursday morning, when they played third-seeded, Hilbert. The Mounties struggled to find offensive footing, registering one lone hit and failing to score.
Mount Aloysius had the first baserunner of the contest, in the bottom of the first inning. walked with two outs, but did not score. The game was a pitcher's duel, with both teams remaining scoreless through the first three frames.
Hilbert took the lead, in the top of the fourth, with two hits to start the inning. They scored on a sacrifice fly, with one out, to push the game's first run across and grab a 1-0 lead. To that point, Mountie starter,
Sierra Walters (East Freedom, Pa. / Claysburg-Kimmel), had allowed just four hits.
The two teams continued their strong pitching, with the score remaining 1-0 through five innings. In the sixth, Hilbert added an insurance run, as they delivered a two-out RBI single, to go ahead, 2-0.
Walters gave the Mounties a chance, with another scoreless inning in the top of the seventh, trailing just 2-0 heading into their final at-bat. The story of the game, however, was that the Mounties first hit of the game did not come until the final frame. With two outs,Â
Alysha Cutri (Imperial, Pa. / Bishop Canevin) doubled to right field, keeping the Mounties' hopes alive. Unfortunately, a pop up to shortstop ended the game, handing the Mounties a 2-0 defeat.
Mount Aloysius got a quality start from Walters, as she hurled 7.0 innings and scattered eight hits. She gave up just two runs while striking out six batters. Hilbert's Kailey Stolowski out-dueled Walters, carrying a no-hitter through 6.2 innings and striking out seven Mounties. Stolowski also drove in both Hilbert runs.
With the loss, Mount Aloysius will face Pitt-Greensburg in Game Six of the tournament. Pitt-Greensburg beat Penn State Altoona in their opening game, before falling to Penn State Behrend, 8-2. Since both teams suffered a loss on Thursday, Friday's game will be a true elimination game.
