Cresson, PA - The Mount Aloysius baseball team split with the Saint Vincent College Bearcats Tuesday afternoon, pounding out 20 hits in a 17-10 victory in game one, and losing game two 9-6 in a non-conference doubleheader.
Game 1: Mounties Explode for 20 Hits in 17-10 Win Over Saint Vincent
After falling behind 2-0 in the third inning, the Mounties answered in emphatic fashion with a seven-run bottom half of the frame to seize control of the game. Coy Martino (Punxsutawney, Pa., Punxsutawney) and Owen McDermott (West Leechburg, Pa., Leechburg) each delivered RBI singles before Trent Dickson (Reinholds, Pa., Cocalico ) launched a three-run home run to left center to put the Mounties ahead. Tyler Day (La Plata, Md., La Plata) later capped the inning with a two-run double to make it 7-2.
The Mounties continued to pour it on in the fourth, adding four more runs. Martino and McDermott again came through with run-scoring hits before a wild pitch and an RBI single from Tyler Alexander (Portage, Pa., Portage) extended the lead to 11-5.
Mount Aloysius put the game out of reach with a six-run fifth inning. McDermott continued his strong day with an RBI double, while Dickson added an RBI single and Alexander tripled home a run before scoring on a balk.
Sidric Grove (Clearville, Pa., Everett) and McDermott led the offensive outburst at the plate, each finishing 4-for-4. McDermott scored three times and drove in three runs, while Grove crossed the plate three times. Dickson finished with four RBIs, and Alexander added two hits and two RBIs.
In total, nine different Mounties recorded hits as the team piled up 20 on the afternoon.
Aaron Lunn (Butler, Pa., Butler) picked up the win on the mound for the Mounties, working 3.2 innings while allowing five runs and striking out two. Matthew Watkins (Broad Top City, Pa., Tussey Mountain) tossed the final 3.1 innings in relief.
St. Vincent rallied late with four runs in the seventh, but the Mounties' early offensive explosion proved more than enough to secure the 17-10 win in game one.
Game 2: Mounties Rally Falls Short in 9-6 Loss to Saint Vincent
Mount Aloysius battled back from an early deficit but ultimately fell 9-6 to St. Vincent in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader.
The Bearcats struck first in the second inning and then broke the game open with three runs in the third to take a 4-0 lead. The Mounties answered in the bottom half when Anthony Maseto (Cherry Tree, Pa., Harmony) drove in Logan Quade (Mechanicsville, Md., Chopticon ) with an RBI single.
St. Vincent extended its lead in the fourth inning when Nolan Hurd connected for a three-run home run to push the advantage to 8-1.
Mount Aloysius chipped away at the deficit over the next several innings. A wild pitch brought home Alexander in the fourth before Maseto lifted a sacrifice fly to score Cole Harkness (Hughesville, Md., Saint Mary's Ryken), trimming the lead to 8-3.
The Mounties continued to fight back in the fifth inning. McDermott scored on a sacrifice fly from Dickson, and Day added another sac fly to bring Alexander home and cut the deficit to 9-5.
Mount Aloysius added one more in the sixth when McDermott lifted a sacrifice fly to score Grove, but the rally stalled there as St. Vincent held on for the 9-6 victory.
McDermott led the Mounties yet again with two hits and an RBI, while Grove, Alexander, and Harkness each added two-hit performances. Maseto finished with two RBIs in the loss.
With the split, the Mounties moved to 5-5 on the season. They'll take the .500 record with them to Myrtle Beach for their Spring Break trip, which will begin Saturday afternoon.
Baseball will play six games in South Carolina, beginning with McDaniel College (6-5) Saturday at 3 PM. All of the games will be played at the Ripken Complex, with game one of the trip being played at Crosley Field.
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