Softball takes Pitt Greensburg to extra innings, earns AMCC split on the road

GREENSBURG, Pa. --- Carlow University softball split a pair of AMCC games with Pitt Greensburg on the road Monday.

The Celtics (6-16, 4-4 AMCC) handed the Bobcats (11-9, 5-1 AMCC) their first AMCC loss of the season in an extra-inning game to start the day, while Pitt Greensburg won the nightcap.

Game 1: W, 4-3 (9 inn.)

The Celtics took the first game into extra innings after a late comeback from the Bobcats.

Carlow scored two runs in the top of the first after back-to-back singles, a fielder's choice and a walk loaded the bases. The Bobcats walked in two runs before they could get out of the inning.

It was a pitchers' duel through the next four innings. Carlow had a runner on third in the top of the second but could not bring her home, and the Celtics left two runners stranded in the bottom half of the frame.

It was almost the exact same scenario in the third, and each team retired the side in the fourth.

Pitt Greensburg left two Celtics stranded in the fifth before Clara Niglio retired the side in the bottom of the inning.

A double, a single and an error allowed a run to score in the bottom of the sixth to cut Carlow's advantage to one run.

A line drive offered the Bobcats a double play to prevent the Celtics from scoring in the top of the seventh, and Pitt Greensburg tied the game 2-all in the bottom half of the frame.

A one-out single and two stolen bases put a runner on third, and a single to left field brought her in to tie the game. Carlow left two runners stranded as the teams headed into extra innings.

International tiebreaker rules put Rosa DePrater on second base, and a well-placed sacrifice bunt from Jillian Durst moved her to third. Niglio hit a ground out to shortstop that allowed DePrater to score. An error kept the inning going, but the Bobcats picked up a fly out to end the run.

Back-to-back singles tied the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the inning before Niglio served up three ground outs to move on to the ninth.

McKenna Pierce hit an RBI double to left centerfield to lift Carlow to 4-3, and that was all the Celtics would need as two strikeouts and a fly out ended the game in Carlow's favor.

Niglio earned the complete game win, allowing two earned runs on nine hits with a season-high seven strikeouts and four walks.

Pierce hit 2 for 3 with an RBI and two walks, and Mackenzie Egley went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a walk.

Pitt Greensburg pitcher Melanie Mienke was saddled with the loss after allowing two earned runs on 11 hits with four strikeouts and five walks. Hunter Taylor went 3 for 4 with an RBI and a walk in the effort at the plate.

Game 2: L, 9-8

Errors abounded on both sides in the nightcap, resulting in a 9-8 win for the Bobcats.

A single and two walks loaded the bases, and an error on a strikeout allowed Carlow to bring in its first unearned run in the top of the first. An RBI single from DePrater brought in Carlow's second run of the inning.

A one-out triple and a single to right field cut Carlow's lead to 2-1, and the Bobcats left two Carlow runners stranded in the top of the second and third to keep the game close.

Pitt Greensburg gained the lead in the bottom of the third. A double, four singles and two errors brought in six runs to put the Bobcats ahead, 7-2.

Another error, a double and a single tacked on two more runs for Pitt Greensburg in the bottom of the fifth to put them ahead, 9-2.

The Celtics put together a big inning in the sixth. Two walks and a wild pitch brought a run in on a fielder's choice. With two outs and runners on second and third, two errors and a single brought in four more runs for Carlow, cutting the Bobcats' lead to 9-7.

Carlow retired the side in the bottom half of the frame and took advantage of two more Pitt Greensburg errors in the top of the seventh to come within one run of tying the game. Unfortunately, the Bobcats recorded the final out to secure the win.

Megan Pollinger suffered the loss in the circle after allowing three earned runs on four hits with two strikeouts and two walks in two innings of work.

Tatum Wiggs pitched 2.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits, and Sam Tressler tossed 1.2 innings and allowed one hit.

DePrater went 2 for 3 with two RBI and a walk, and Francesca Beighley hit 2 for 4 with a walk.

The Celtics travel to Geneva College for a 3:30 p.m. nonconference game April 19.