Softball splits with neighboring Chatham

PITTSBURGH --- Carlow University softball split a nonconference doubleheader against Chatham University Tuesday night.

The Cougars (3-9) took the first game, 6-1, while the Celtics (2-10) won the second game, 11-2, in six innings.

Game 1: L, 6-1

The Cougars one-hit the Celtics to start the evening, retiring the Celtics in order through four innings before Carlow would add its lone run to the board in the top of the fifth.

The Cougars scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the second and tacked on two runs off a triple, single and double in the third.

McKenna Pierce drew a walk in the top of the fifth and made it to second on a wild pitch. A ground moved her to third, and an error allowed her to score Carlow's unearned run.

Four singles in a row added two more runs for the Cougars in the bottom half of the frame, as the Celtics avoided any more runs scoring by getting out of a bases-loaded jam with a pop fly.

Chatham once again retired Carlow in order in the sixth, and although Pierce hit Carlow's lone single in the top of the seventh, the Cougars were able to shut it down.

Clara Niglio suffered the loss in the circle, allowing four earned runs on nine hits with six strikeouts and two walks.

Victoria Murren and Savanna Ahlborn went 2 for 3 with one RBI each, and Murren picked up the one-hit win with six strikeouts and one walk.

Game 2: W, 11-2 (6 inn.)

The Celtics fared better in the nightcap, racking up 13 hits and taking advantage of six errors en route to an 11-2 run-rule win.

Jillian Durst brought in Carlow's first run in the top of the second with a sacrifice fly to centerfield, but Chatham quickly regained the lead in the bottom of the inning.

Three singles and a ground out scored two runs to put the Cougars ahead, 2-1.

Back-to-back singles and a wild pitch in the third put runners on second and third for the Celtics, and a two-out single from Maddie Bowes brought in two runs.

Carlow retired the Cougars in order in the bottom of the inning and added four runs in the top of the fourth to extend their lead to 7-2. Durst hit a double to left center field to start the inning, and a single by Mackenzie Egley and error brought her home.

Pierce hit an RBI single, and Niglio slammed a two-run double to left field before the Cougars could get out of the inning.

Chatham had runners on in the bottom half of the frame, but a strikeout and a fly out prevented them from scoring.

Carlow retired the Cougars in order in the bottom of the fifth and scored the final four runs in the top of the sixth.

Four hits and four costly errors brought the runs home for the Celtics to put them ahead, 11-2. Chatham saw a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the inning, but another strikeout and fly out ended the game in favor of the Celtics.

Tatum Wiggs earned her first win of the season in the circle, allowing two earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts in the complete game effort. Nearly every Celtic hit safely in the win. Durst hit 2 for 3 with a double and two RBI, Bella Cartieri went 2 for 3 with an RBI, Bowes went 2 for 4 with two RBI, Pierce hit 2 for 4 with an RBI and Egley went 2 for 5 with a double and an RBI.

Murren was tabbed with the loss after allowing two earned runs on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks in three innings of work. Murren and Hannah Chenault each hit 2 for 3.

The Celtics return to action with their home opener Sunday, March 24 at 12 p.m. against Penn State Beaver. Carlow plays all its home games this season at West Field in Munhall.