Softball secures second AMCC sweep of the season at Wells

AURORA, N.Y. --- Carlow University softball swept Wells College in 10 innings of AMCC action on the road Saturday.

The sweep of the Express (2-24, 0-14 AMCC) bumped the Celtics (12-20, 8-6 AMCC) to third place in the conference standings.

Game 1: W, 15-3 (5 inn.)

Carlow grooved 20 hits – including 10 doubles and a triple – to win the first game in five innings.

 A double and two singles tallied a run for the Celtics in the top of the first, and an error and two doubles put Carlow ahead 3-0 in the second.

The Celtics took advantage of a wild pitch and a ground out to score two runs in the top of the third, adding four more with a single, two doubles and a triple to lead, 9-0. The Express cut Carlow's advantage to six, scoring three runs in the bottom half of the frame on one hit and two errors.

Neither team scored in the fourth, as Wells left two baserunners stranded for the Celtics in the top of the inning, and Carlow retired the side in the bottom.

Five singles, three doubles and two errors afforded Carlow another six-run inning, giving the Celtics a 15-3 lead, as Carlow turned a double play in the bottom half of the frame to end the game.

Clara Niglio scattered five hits, allowing just one earned run with three strikeouts and a walk in the complete game effort. Francesca Beighley went 4 for 5 with a double and an RBI, and McKenna Pierce hit 3 for 5 with a triple and three RBI.

Niglio helped her own cause by going 3 for 5 with a double and an RBI, and Megan Pollinger hit 2 for 4 with two doubles and two RBI. Mackenzie Egley and Maddie Bowes each recorded a double and brought in three and two runs, respectively, while Tatum Wiggs tallied two doubles and an RBI.

Christa Koagel suffered the loss for Wells after allowing 13 earned runs with three strikeouts and four walks. She hit 2 for 2 with a double and two RBI in the effort at the plate.

Game 2: W, 13-1

Wiggs earned her second win of the season after tossing a three-hitter in the nightcap. She struck out a season-high seven batters and allowed just one run in the complete game effort.

The Celtics put almost all their runs on the board early. A single, an error and a two-run double got it started for Carlow in the top of the first, followed by an RBI triple to right field by Bella Cartieri, who scored on an error in the next at-bat to put the Celtics ahead, 4-0.

Wiggs retired the side, and the Celtics scored eight runs on six hits – including five singles, two doubles and a triple – to lead 10-0 heading into the bottom of the second.

Wells scored its lone run after back-to-back singles put runners on the corners, and a pick-off attempt allowed the runner at third to steal home.

Carlow added a run in the third and tallied two runs on two hits and an error in the top of the fourth to lead, 13-1. The Celtics ended the run-rule game by retiring the side in the bottom of the fifth.

Cartieri went 3 for 3 with a double, a triple and an RIB, and Egley tripled with three RBI. Pierce hit 3 for 4 with two doubles and two RBI, while Beighley hit 3 for 4 with a double and a triple.

Josie Krieman was saddled with the loss for the Express after allowing eight earned runs on 15 hits with two strikeouts.

The Celtics host Mount Aloysius College for a 7 p.m. AMCC doubleheader May 2 at West Field in Munhall.