Softball scores 35 runs in rout of Penn State Beaver

MONACA, Pa. --- Carlow University softball scored 35 runs in 13 innings to sweep Penn State Beaver in USCAA action Wednesday.

The Celtics improved to 10-20 overall, while the Lions ended the regular season 21-20.

Game 1: W, 22-7 (6 inn.)

McKenna Pierce went 4 for 5 with a home run and five RBI, and Mackenzie Egley hit 3 for 5 with two doubles and five RBI to help lead the Celtics to a run-rule victory in the first game.

Both players hit two-run doubles in the first and an error put the Celtics ahead 5-0 to start the game. Beaver cut Carlow's advantage to two in the bottom of the inning with two singles and two doubles.

Megan Pollinger hit a one-out triple to score an unearned run in the second, and Pierce singled to bring her home. Maddie Bowes stepped to the plate and nailed a two-run home run to give Carlow a 9-3 lead. Kierstyn Mays hit a solo home run in the bottom of the third to cut Carlow's lead to five.

The Celtics hit four singles in a row to add two more runs in the top of the fourth, and another two-run double from Egley put Carlow up, 13-4.

A three-run triple in the bottom half of the frame made it 13-7 in favor of the Celtics, and a solo home run from Pierce in the top of the fifth doubled the Lions' score.

The Celtics put together a big eight-run inning in the top of the sixth. Clara Niglio hit a three-run single, and three errors in a row allowed three more runs across. Bella Cartieri hit an RBI double, and a fielder's choice scored the final run of the inning, putting Carlow ahead, 22-7. Carlow retired the Lions in order in the bottom half of the frame to end the game.

Niglio allowed three earned runs on four hits in the first inning, while Justena Giles earned her first win, pitching the remainder of the game and allowing four earned runs on four hits with four strikeouts and a walk.

Chloe Coleman led the Lions at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a triple, a double and four RBI, while Gabbey Flynt suffered the loss in the circle, allowing five earned runs on nine hits with one strikeout in 1.1 innings.

Game 2: W, 13-9

The Lions kept it closer in the nightcap, starting with a 2-0 advantage after a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the first. The Celtics cut the lead in half when Jillian Durst scored on a wild pitch in the second inning, and Carlow left two runners stranded in the bottom half of the frame.

The Celtics gained the lead in the top of the third with a three-run home run from Pierce, while a walk, and error and a single tacked on two more runs to put Carlow ahead, 6-2.

An error brought a run across for Beaver in the bottom of the inning, and RBI doubles from Pollinger and Cartieri saw Carlow leading 8-3 heading into the bottom of the fourth.

Four hits and an error cut Carlow's lead to one run, but a two-out, two-run double from Niglio in the fifth gave the Celtics some wiggle room. Tatum Wiggs retired the Lions in order in the bottom half of the frame, and neither team would score in the sixth.

Another two-run double from Niglio and an RBI single by Pollinger put Carlow ahead 13-7 in the top of the seventh.

The Lions strung together three hits and took advantage of two errors to score two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but back-to-back force out plays at home plate and a big strikeout by Giles ended the rally.

Pollinger hit 3 for 5 with two RBI, and Niglio went 2 for 5 with four RBI to lead Carlow at the plate. Pollinger earned the win in the circle, allowing five earned runs on nine hits with four strikeouts and two walks in four innings. Wiggs allowed one earned run on four hits with two strikeouts and a walk in two innings or work, and Giles pitched the final inning and recorded a strikeout.

Mackenzie Boyd was saddled with the loss after allowing five earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts and three walks in three innings. Valentina Sandoval went 4 for 5 with an RBI, and Boyd hit 3 for 5 with an RBI in the effort at the plate.

Carlow returns to AMCC action with a 10 a.m. doubleheader at Wells (N.Y.) College April 27.