CRESSON, PA – The Mount Aloysius softball team (15-12, 8-4 AMCC) hosted rival the Penn State Altoona Lions (20-12, 10-4 AMCC) in a competitive doubleheader on their home field. Riding the momentum of two recent wins over conference opponent Hilbert, the Mounties entered the matchup full of confidence.
GAME ONE
Game one was a classic pitcher's duel, with both offenses struggling to find traction.
Jessica Koptcho (Mountain Top, Pa., Crestwood) reached a major career milestone, recording her 200th career strikeout as part of a dominant seven-inning, 11-strikeout performance. She allowed just three hits, keeping Penn State Altoona off the scoreboard all game.
The Mounties broke through in the bottom of the seventh.
Morgan Hassen (Northern Cambria, Pa., Northern Cambria) reached on an error, then advanced to third after a
Whitney Cole (McDonald, Pa., South Fayette) single. With one out,
Patricia Wagner (Gallitzin, Pa., Penn Cambria) reached on another error, allowing Hassen to cross the plate for the game's only run—securing a thrilling walk-off win.
Offensively, Hassen and
Kendra Gardner (Mount Union, Pa. , Mount Union) each collected two hits.
Sarah Henninger (DuBois, Pa., DuBois), Cole, and
Maggie Cypher (Kittanning, Pa., Armstrong) also chipped in with one hit apiece.
GAME TWO
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Mounties struck first. Gardner drove in Henninger in the first inning to give Mount Aloysius a 1–0 lead. They extended the lead in the fourth when
Maya Capozzoli (Camp Hill, Pa., Cedar Cliff) brought home
Sophie Smith (Mapleton Depot, Pa., Mount Union) with an RBI hit.
Sierra Walters (East Freedom, Pa., Claysburg-Kimmel) pitched six strong innings and kept Penn State Altoona scoreless until trouble arose in the seventh. After two singles and a sacrifice bunt, the visitors had runners on second and third with one out. A single tied the game, and an error allowed the runner to advance to third. Walters was then relieved by Koptcho, who struck out the first batter she faced before giving up a go-ahead single that gave Penn State Altoona a 3–2 lead.
The Mounties were unable to rally in the bottom of the seventh, going down in order and falling just short in a hard-fought loss.
Maggie Cypher led the offense in game two with two hits. Henninger, Smith, and
Isabela Marquez (Greensburg, Pa., Greensburg Central Catholic) each added one hit.
UP NEXT…
The Mounties hit the road to face Pitt-Bradford in a conference doubleheader on Saturday, April 26th. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:00 PM.