Long night for Softball in AMCC action against Penn State Altoona

WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. --- Carlow University softball lost an Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference doubleheader to Penn State Altoona at West Mifflin Area High School Tuesday night.

The Lions (18-12) improved to 8-2 in the conference while the Celtics (4-24) fell to 1-7.

An intense storm rolled through and delayed first pitch by 45 minutes due to lightning in the area.

Game 1: L, 12-1 (5 inn.)

Penn State Altoona pitcher Josselyn Nau scattered six hits and afforded the Celtics one unearned run to help the Lions to a run-rule victory in the first game.

Carlow held the Lions in check through the first two innings and took advantage of two singles and two errors to score their lone run in the bottom of the first.

Penn State Altoona went ahead 5-1 in the top of the third and broke open scoring in the fourth with a grand slam off the bat of Riley Best to lead, 11-1. Best hit an RBI double to score the Lions' final run in the top of the fifth, and Penn State Altoona retired the Celtics in order in the bottom half of the frame to secure the win.

Tatum Wiggs (Boron, Calif./Boron HS) suffered the loss after allowing 10 runs (six earned) on six hits with four walks and two strikeouts in 3.1 innings. Gianna Ferrieri (South Park, Pa./Seton LaSalle Catholic HS) tossed the final 1.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits with one walk and one strikeout.

Game 2: L, 11-3

An unusual turn of events put a damper on the Celtics' attempts at a comeback in the nightcap.

The Lions got on the board first with an unearned run in the top of the third, but the Celtics quickly tied the game in the bottom of the inning. A one-out error and a sacrifice bunt put a runner in scoring position, and Kamyia Morris (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton LaSalle Catholic HS) hit a triple up the middle to bring her home and tied the game, 1-1.

Two hits and two costly errors gave Penn State Altoona a 6-1 lead in the fourth, but Carlow slowly chipped away through the next two innings.

Cailyn Lucas (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills HS) hit RBI singles in the fourth and fifth to see the Celtics trailing, 6-3.

A call on the field and a subsequent rules interpretation resulted in another 45-minute delay, and the Lions returned to the field to tack on two more runs on two hits and an error to go up, 8-3.

Penn State Altoona scored three runs on two hits and an error in the seventh and made quick work of the Celtics in the bottom of the inning to end the game.

Lucas suffered the loss after allowing nine runs (four earned) on seven hits with four walks and a season-high four strikeouts in six innings. She helped her own cause by going 2 for 4 with two RBI. Ferrieri pitched the final inning, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits with two walks and a strikeout.

Morris hit 2 for 4 with an RBI and Lexi Berta (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic) went 2 for three with a double to help lead Carlow at the plate.

Madson Kennedy earned the win for the Lions, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits with four walks and two strikeouts in five innings.

Haleigh Peters went 2 for 4 and Kendal Wadsworth hit 2 for 3 with an RBI.

The Celtics travel to Hilbert for a 1 p.m. AMCC doubleheader April 18.