Softball defeated in extra innings on opening day of USCAA Small College World Series

DUBOIS, Pa. --- D'Youville University softball defeated Carlow University, 9-7, in an eighth-inning walk-off to open USCAA Small College World Series action Monday.

The Saints (17-27) put a run on the board in the first with an RBI double to centerfield and retired the Celtics (15-34) in order in the top of the second.

Three doubles and two singles in the bottom half of the frame gave D'Youville a 4-0 lead heading into the third.

Both teams left a runner stranded in the third, and Carlow went to work in the top of the fourth to cut the Saints' lead to one run.

Megan Pollinger, McKenna Pierce and Morgan Nedley all singled to start the inning and load the bases for the Celtics.

Back-to-back ground outs from Clara Niglio and Maddie Bowes brought two runs in for Carlow, and Mackenzie Egley singled up the middle to cut D'Youville's lead to 4-3.

Pollinger allowed just one hit in the bottom half of the frame, and Carlow gained the lead in the top of the fifth.

Two errors and a walk once again loaded the bases for the Celtics, and Nedley singled to centerfield to tie the game, 4-4.

A fielder's choice got the runner at home, but the bases remained full for Bowes, who hit a two-out single through the left side to put Carlow up, 5-4.

Carlow retired the side in the bottom of the fifth, but a runner was left stranded in the top of the sixth.

A single and two errors in the bottom of the inning gave D'Youville a 6-5 advantage, but Niglio helped her own cause with an RBI double to left-centerfield to tie the score, 6-all.

Carlow once again retired the Saints in order – this time forcing extra innings.

The Celtics started off with Marissa Schuckman on second base in the eighth due to the international tie-breaker rule, and Francesca Beighley hit a two-out single to centerfield to bring her home and give Carlow the lead.

With a runner on third and one out in the bottom half of the frame, the Saints singled up the middle to tie the score, 7-7.

In the next at-bat, Hannah Bardeen hit a home run over the right field fence to score the walk-off victory for the Saints.

Three different Celtics took a turn in the pitching circle, but Niglio was saddled with the loss after allowing the go-head run in the eighth. She struck out two and walked two and allowed three hits in 2.2 innings of work.

Beighley, Bowes and Egley went 2 for 4, Nedley hit 3 for 4 and Niglio doubled with two RBI.

Bardeen hit 4 for 5 with four RBI to lead the Saints, and Sarah Parzych picked up the win in the circle after allowing one earned run on four hits with a walk and a strikeout in the final four innings of work.

Both teams tallied 11 hits apiece on the day.

The Celtics face No. 9-seed Mississippi University for Women in an elimination game today at noon.