Softball splits AMCC City Games at La Roche

PITTSBURGH --- Carlow University softball split an AMCC doubleheader at La Roche University Tuesday.

The Celtics (8-20, 6-6 AMCC) won a decisive 10-1 game in six innings to start the day, but the Redhawks (9-21, 4-8 AMCC) returned the favor in the nightcap with an 8-0 run rule game in five innings.

Game 1: W, 10-1 (6 inn.)

Pitcher Clara Niglio allowed just four hits to record her sixth win of the season as the Celtics defeated La Roche in six innings to start the afternoon.

The Celtics brought a run home in the first inning to get scoring started. Megan Pollinger hit a two-out single to right field, and McKenna Pierce followed up with a single to left to put runners in scoring position.

Maddie Bowes reached on an error by the shortstop that allowed Pollinger to come across for the unearned run.

The Celtics turned a double play in the bottom half of the inning, and Justena Giles hit a triple to bring in another run for Carlow in the top of the second. Niglio singled to put the Celtics ahead, 3-0.

Carlow retired the Redhawks in order in the bottom of the third and Francesca Beighley hit a two-out double to keep the inning going in the fourth.

Niglio doubled and Pollinger hit a single to bring in two more runs for the Celtics, ahead 5-0.

Two singles and a passed ball put runners on second and third for Mackenzie Egley, who singled to centerfield to bring in another run. A steal and a throwing error on the pickoff attempt put Carlow up 7-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth.

La Roche scored its lone run in the bottom half of the frame. A lead-off double and a sacrifice fly to centerfield brought the run home.

The Celtics scored three runs on two hits and two errors in the top of the sixth to lead, 10-1, and retired the Redhawks in order in the bottom of the inning to end the game.

Jillian Durst hit 2 for 3 with two RBI and a walk to lead Carlow at the plate. Pierce hit 2 for 3, and Pollinger went 2 for 4 with an RBI. Niglio helped her cause going 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI.

Maura Wade was tabbed with the loss for La Roche after allowing four earned runs on eight hits with a strikeout and two walks in four innings of work.

Game 2: L, 8-0 (5 inn.)

La Roche pitcher Emma Kaufman tossed a four-hit shutout to help lift the Redhawks to a walk off victory in the nightcap.

The Redhawks retired Carlow in order and scored an unearned run on an error to start the game.

Back-to-back singles put runners in scoring position for Carlow in the second, but La Roche left them stranded and tacked on two more runs on three hits and an error in the bottom of the inning.

Neither team would score through the next two innings, and La Roche picked up a force out at third to prevent the Celtics from scoring in the top of the fifth.

Wade hit a two-out triple to keep the inning going for La Roche in the bottom half of the frame. Another triple in the next at-bat brought her home, and an RBI single put La Roche ahead, 5-0. A hit batter and wild pitch put runners on second and third for the Redhawks, and a single to left field allowed both runners to score, putting La Roche ahead, 7-0.

A single to left field scored the go-ahead run for the Redhawks to end the game.

Durst went 2 for 2 at the plate, and Tatum Wiggs suffered the loss in the circle after allowing three earned runs on six hits with a strikeout and a walk in 4.2 innings. Sam Tressler and Giles finished the game.

Kynnydy Lewis went 2 for 2 with two RBI to lead La Roche at the plate. Makenzie Formeck went 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI, and Garrah Milochik hit 2 for 3 with an RBI.

The Celtics head to Penn State Beaver for a 3:30 p.m. doubleheader tomorrow.