Softball sweeps Penn State Beaver in USCAA action

WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. --- Carlow University softball swept Penn State Beaver in a USCAA doubleheader at West Mifflin High School Sunday afternoon.

The Celtics (3-15) won a 14-3 run-rule game to start the day, and defeated the Lions (5-10), 6-1, in the nightcap.

Game 1: W, 14-3 (5 inn.)

Carlow pounded 14 hits and overcame an initial 3-0 deficit to win the first game in five innings.

Gianna Ferrieri (South Park, Pa./Seton LaSalle Catholic HS) picked up her first collegiate win in the circle, allowing one earned run on seven hits with two strikeouts and three walks.

The Lions went ahead 3-0 after scoring two unearned runs in the first and tacking on another in the top of the second, but Carlow gained a lead in the bottom half of the frame.

Deborah Garza (San Antonio, Texas/Robert G. Cole HS) hit a two-out single to get the rally started, and Cailyn Lucas (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills HS) followed with a single of her own.

Lexi Berta (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic) hit an RBI double up the middle, and Carrah Scardina (Natrona Heights, Pa./Highlands HS) doubled to left-center to bring in two runs and tie the game at 3-all. A dropped fly ball in center field allowed Carlow to go ahead, 4-3.

The Celtics left a runner stranded in the top of the third and produced nine runs in the bottom of the inning.

Carlow batted through the order with seven hits and took advantage of a costly error to lead, 13-3.

A double and an error afforded the Lions a run in the top of the fourth, but the Celtics left two runners stranded in the top of the fifth to end the game.

Scardina went 2 for4 with two doubles and four RBI. Tatum Wiggs (Boron, Calif./Boron HS) and Taylor Egley (Shelocta, Pa./Armstrong HS) added two RBI each, and Kamyia Morris (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton LaSalle Catholic HS) went 3 for 4.

Mackenzie Boyd was saddled with the loss after allowing eight runs (seven earned) on six hits with two strikeouts and three walks in two innings. Kierstyn Mays went 2 for 2 with a double and an RBI.

Game 2: W, 6-1

Wiggs picked up her first win of the season in the nightcap, scattering six hits and allowing one unearned run with two walks and seven strikeouts in the complete game effort.

The offense supported her efforts, tallying 12 hits. Morris went 3 for 4 and almost hit for the cycle with a single, a double and a triple.

The Celtics went ahead early with four runs in the bottom of the first. Morris legged out a two-out triple to left field to get things started, and an infield single from Mackenzie Egley (Shelocta, Pa./Armstrong HS) brought her home. Wiggs helped her own cause with an RBI double to left-center, and Taylor Egley doubled to right-center in the next at-bat to bring her around. Lucas hit a single up the middle to put runners on the corners, and Garza singled to right to put the Celtics ahead, 4-0.

Wiggs escaped a bases-loaded jam with a strikeout in the top of the second, and an error allowed another run across for Carlow in the bottom of the inning.

Carlow scored its final run of the game in the bottom of the third with a two-out double off the bat of Scardina.

The Celtics turned a double play off a line drive to second in the top of the fourth to keep Penn State Beaver off the board until the Lions scored their lone unearned run off two hits and an error in the top of the fifth.

Scardina robbed the Lions of a hit up the middle in the top of the sixth, and the Celtics retired Penn State Beaver in order in the seventh to end the game.

Scardina went 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI, and Taylor Egley hit 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Lucas went 2 for 2.

Mays suffered the loss, allowing five earned runs on 12 hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Reese Riordan went 2 for 3 at the plate to lead the Lions.

The Celtics travel to Washington & Jefferson College for a 3:30 p.m. doubleheader April 1.