Softball picks up first win of the season over Penn State Brandywine at The Spring Games

KISSIMMEE, Fla. --- Carlow University softball won its first game of the season over Penn State Brandywine on the third day of The Spring Games Wednesday afternoon.

The Celtics fell to Montclair State University, 9-1, in six innings before defeating the Lions (4-6), 8-6 in the nightcap.

vs. Montclair State: L, 9-1 (6 inn.)

The Red Hawks (3-5) held Carlow to four hits and scored five runs in the sixth inning to earn the win.

Carlow scored its lone run in the bottom of the first inning.

Kamyia Morris (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton LaSalle Catholic HS) hit a lead-off triple to right-center field, and Deborah Garza (San Antonio, Texas/Robert G. Cole HS) put runners on the corners after being hit by a pitch. Mackenzie Egley (Shelocta, Pa./Armstrong HS) hit an RBI single to left field to bring Morris home before the Red Hawks escaped a bases-loaded situation to end the inning.

Montclair State tied the game 1-1 with an unearned run in the top of the third and added three runs on four hits to go up, 4-1, in the fifth.

Two costly Carlow errors and five hits in the sixth put the Red Hawks ahead 9-1, and Montclair State ended the game with a double play in the bottom half of the frame.

Morris hit 2 for 3 with a triple and a stolen base. Tatum Wiggs (Boron, Calif./Boron HS) suffered the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits with five strikeouts in 5.1 innings of work.

Liz Mullen led the Red Hawks at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI. Zoe Turner hit 2 for 4 with four stolen bases.

vs. Penn State Brandywine: W, 8-6

The Celtics pounded 15 hits and held onto the lead to record their first win of the season against the Lions.

Morris and Lexi Berta (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic) each hit singles and stole a base to put runners in scoring position in the top of the first. Wiggs hit a one-out double to bring them both around and give the Celtics a 2-0 lead.

Three hits and an error allowed Brandywine to tie the score in the bottom half of the frame.

The Lions retired the Celtics in order in the second, and Gianna Ferrieri (South Park, Pa./Seton LaSalle Catholic HS) made a running grab over her shoulder in left field to keep Brandywine off the board in the bottom of the inning.

Four singles in a row put Carlow up 4-2 in the third, and the Celtics took advantage of four hits and an error to go ahead 8-2 in the top of the fourth.

The Lions cut Carlow's lead in half in the bottom of the inning, and a pitching change in the fifth held the Celtics scoreless.

A double, two singles and a wild pitch saw Brandywine trailing by two heading into the sixth.

Carlow escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth and Garza caught a runner stealing in the seventh to put the Celtics one out from victory. Ferrieri struck out the final batter to end the game.

Wiggs led the Celtics at the plate, going 3 for 4 with a double and five RBI. Morris and Mackenzie Egley each hit 3 for 4 with an RBI. Berta hit 2 for 3 with a stolen base, and Morris stole two bases.

Cailyn Lucas (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills HS) earned the win, allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits with three walks in five innings. Ferreiri earned her first collegiate save after allowing one hit with two walks and two strikeouts in the final two innings.

Valentina Capra went 2 for 5 with two RBI and Olivia Bowers hit 2 for 4 with a double to lead the Lions. April Lewandowski suffered the loss after allowing eight runs (six earned) on 12 hits with three strikeouts in four innings. Isabella Hurta scattered three hits over three innings to close the game.

The Celtics face Wheaton and Thomas at 1:45 and 4 p.m. tomorrow for the final games of spring training.