Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Emory, VA - The Mount Aloysius Baseball team opened its season on Saturday, playing in two tight contests at Emory & Henry. The Mounties were able to win the opener 5-4, but lost the second in walk-off fashion 2-1.

The Mountie offense started quickly in the first game, as they jumped out to an early lead. Daniel Singer (St. Mary's, PA/Elk County Catholic) led off the game with a double down the left field line. After a sacrifice bunt put the runner at third with one out, Matthew McCourt (Mullica Hill, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) drove him in with an RBI ground out. Sophomore Matthew Brown (Hustontown, PA/Forbes Road) led off the second and hit a deep drive over the right field wall. The home run was Brown's first career blast, and doubled the Mountie lead. 

Mount Aloysius was able to tack on another run in the 4th. After a hit batsman, single and defensive error loaded the bases, Joe Hudak (Central City, PA/Shanksville-Stonycreek) was able to drive in a run on a sacrifice fly to center field. The Wasps were able to pull a run back in the bottom of the 4th, but the Mounties were able to quickly restore the 3 run cushion in the 5th. McCourt hit a 1 out moonshot over the left center field wall for his first home run of the season.

Sophomore Dylan Coyle (Canonsburg, PA/Canon-McMillan) started on the hill for the Mounties and was able to hold Emory & Henry in check through 4. With the help of 2 errors in the bottom of the 5th, the Wasps were able to put three across in the frame to tie the game at 4. Douglas Cannon (Valencia, PA/Mars Area) entered the game with 2 outs in the 5th, but gave up the game tying single, allowing his 1 inherited runner to score. Coyle's final line was 4 and 2/3 innings pitched, he allowed 4 runs, only 1 earned, on 8 hits and no walks. He struck out 1 batter and ended with a no decision. 

Cannon was able to keep the Wasps scoreless in the 6th, working around a 2 out double to send the game to the final frame tied at 4. Leading off the 7th, McCourt hit a line drive that flew over the left field wall for his second home run of the day. Cannon worked quickly in the bottom of the 7th, getting a 1-2-3 inning to finish off the game. He was credited with the win for his scoreless effort over 2 and 1/3 innings.

Offensively, McCourt finished the game 2 for 3 with 2 home runs and 3 runs batted in. Outfielder Patrick Mahon (Pittsburgh, PA/Allegheny CC) also had two hits in the contest. 

Game two was a pitchers duel that saw the Mounties only able to muster 1 run on 3 hits.

The run came in the 2nd inning. Sam Keibler (Kittaning, PA/Kittaning) and Nick Belka (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) started the inning with two walks. After a double play left Keibler on third with 1 out, Mahon hit a big two out double to the right center field gap to drive in the run. 

Michael McCourt (Mullica Hill, NJ/St. Augustine Prep) started for the Mounties and put in a very strong performance. He allowed 1 unearned run, which came in the second inning. He gave up 3 hits and 1 walk while striking out 3. He picked up a no decision, as the Mounties were unable to score any more runs in the game. 

Nick Lagnese (North Huntingdon, PA/Norwin) was able to get out of trouble in the 6th and exited the game with 1 out in the 7th after a runner reached on an error and advanced to third on a single. Ryan McElwee (Centre Hall, PA/Penns Valley) entered and attempted to get the Mounties out of the jam and into extra innings. After making a defensive play on a safety squeeze attempt to hold the runner, McElwee got the next batter to hit a grounder to the left side. Nicholas Belka made a diving stop at third, however his throw would be just late, allowing the winning run to score.

Lagnese picks up the loss, after being tagged with the unearned run. Matthew McCourt and Jeremy Iellimo (Arnold, PA/Valley Area) were the only other Mounties to pick up hits in the loss. 

The Mounties split double header leaves them at 1-1 for the season. Though a rubber match between the squads was originally scheduled for tomorrow, the game has been canceled due to impending weather. The Mounties next action will be on next Saturday as they travel to Myrtle Beach, SC for their annual Spring Break Trip. They will take on New England College at Pelicans Stadium at 10:00 AM and follow that up with a game at the Ripken Complex against Valley Forge at 2:00 PM.