Cresson, PA - The Mount Aloysius softball team split a Tuesday afternoon doubleheader with the Pitt-Greensburg Bobcats, riding a dominant pitching performance in game one before falling just short in a high-scoring battle in the nightcap.

In the opener, Jessica Koptcho (Mountain Top, Pa., Crestwood) continued to pitch well, tossing a complete-game one-hitter to lead the Mounties to a 2-1 victory. The senior right-hander was nearly untouchable, allowing just a solo home run in the fourth inning for Pitt-Greensburg's only hit and baserunner of the game while striking out nine without issuing a walk.

The Mounties struck first in the opening inning, capitalizing on a Bobcat error to bring home Hanna Stedman (Washington, Pa., Trinity) for an early 1-0 lead. After Pitt-Greensburg evened the score on the lone home run, the Mounties answered immediately in the bottom half of the fourth. Sarah Henninger (DuBois, Pa., DuBois) led off with a triple and later scored on a Maggie Cypher (Kittanning, Pa., Armstrong) RBI groundout, which proved to be the difference. Koptcho took care of the rest, retiring 11 batters via flyouts and keeping the Bobcats off balance all afternoon to secure her fifth win of the season.

Game two turned into an offensive slugfest, with Pitt-Greensburg outlasting Mount Aloysius for a 10-8 win despite a late Mountie rally. The Mounties came out swinging early, plating three runs in the first inning behind RBI doubles from Henninger, Cypher, and Alysha Cutri (Imperial, Pa., Bishop Canevin) to take an early lead.

However, the Bobcats responded with a massive third inning, scoring five runs to take control of the game. The Bobcats tallied 17 hits overall, including multiple home runs, to build a 10-4 advantage through five innings.

The Mounties refused to go away though, chipping into the deficit with two runs in the fifth inning and mounting a final push in the seventh. RBI hits from Cutri and a bases-loaded walk to Isabela Marquez (Greensburg, Pa., Greensburg Central Catholic) brought the Mounties within two and put the tying run on base, but the rally ultimately fell short as Pitt-Greensburg recorded the final out. 

Offensively, the Mounties racked up 14 hits in the loss, led by Cutri's three-hit, two-RBI performance and multi-hit efforts from Henninger, Marquez, Aislinn Myers (Sidman, Pa., Forest Hills) and Taylor Doyle (Blanchard, Pa., Central Mountain).

With the split, the Mounties continue to battle in AMCC play with an 8-18 overall record and 4-6 in the AMCC.

Softball will take a break from conference play for a week, as JV will play at Penn State Mont Alto on Thursday at 3 & 5 PM.

#GoMounties