Softball survives elimination with win over No. 5-seed Penn State Mont Alto

DUBOIS, Pa. --- Carlow University softball faced adversity throughout its elimination game against Penn State Mont Alto but came away with a 7-2 win to continue its journey at the USCAA Small College World Series Tuesday.

The Celtics (18-24) tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth and scored five runs in the sixth to secure an upset win over the No. 5-seed Lions (22-15). By virtue of a coin toss, Carlow was the home team for the game.

The Lions scored a run in the top of the first off two hits, and an interference call in the bottom half of the frame prevented Carlow from tying the game.
The Celtics retired Mont Alto in order in the second, but an error and a double allowed an unearned run across to put the Lions ahead 2-0 in the third.

Carlow cut Mont Alto's lead to one in the bottom half of the frame. Lexi Berta (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic) singled with a one-out bunt and made it to second in the next at-bat on a wild pitch.

Haley Bicko (Johnstown, Pa./Greater Johnstown HS) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move her over to third, and Fran Beighley (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum Senior HS) hit a single to center field that brought her home.

Bicko tossed just five pitches to retire the Lions in order in the fourth, and a diving catch in center field from Megan Pollinger (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny Senior HS) kept Mont Alto off the board in the top of the fifth.

The Celtics tied the game in the bottom of the fifth, but the inning was not without some drama.

Bicko hit a one-out double to left field, and a pop out from Beighley afforded her the chance to take third. In Bicko's attempt, she slid and collided with the third baseman on the throw, resulting in an interference call that allowed her to score and tie the game at 2-2.

Carlow left no room for error in the bottom of the sixth. Mackenzie Egley (Shelocta, Pa./Armstrong HS) and Tatum Wiggs (Boron, Calif./Boron HS) hit back-to-back singles to start the inning, and Taylor Egley (Shelocta, Pa./Armstrong HS) broke a 26-day hitting drought with an RBI single to left field that gave Carlow a 3-2 advantage.

Berta hit a one-out RBI single, Bicko landed a two-run double to left field and McKenna Pierce (Leechburg, Pa./Leechburg Area HS) hit an RBI single to left field before the Lions made a pitching change and turned a double play to end the inning. Another five pitch inning from the Celtics in the top of the seventh ended the game in Carlow's favor.

Bicko earned the complete game win, allowing one earned run on four hits with three strikeouts. She helped her own cause at the plate, going 3 for 3 – all doubles – with two RBI. Mackenzie Egley hit 3 for 3, while Berta and Pierce each hit 2 for 3 with an RBI.

Mackenzie Stake was saddled with the loss after allowing seven earned runs on 14 hits with six strikeouts and a walk in 5.1 innings of work. Paige Loudenslager went 2 for 3 with a double and two RBI for the Lions.

Carlow competes against No. 3-seed Penn State DuBois in an elimination game tomorrow at noon. Follow all the action on the official USCAA Championships website at: https://uscaachampionships.com/sports/sball/index