Softball snaps losing streak with split against Alfred State
WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. --- Carlow University softball snapped a 10-game losing streak with a split against Alfred State College in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference action at West Mifflin Area High School Saturday afternoon.
Prior to first pitch, the Celtics celebrated three seniors on the team.
From left: Cailyn Lucas, Mackenzie Egley, Tatum Wiggs. Photo by Robert Cifone.
Game 1: W, 14-6 (6 inn.)
The Celtics (5-29, 2-10 AMCC) strung together a nine-run third inning enroute to a run rule victory in the first game. Carlow tied its season high of 14 runs in one game, the most since a 19-14 loss to Pitt Bradford April 4.
Tatum Wiggs (Boron, Calif./Boron HS) earned the complete game win in the circle, scattering eight hits and allowing four earned runs with four walks and four strikeouts.
A one-out error and a two-out RBI triple put the Pioneers (11-16, 6-7 AMCC) on the board in the top of the first.
Wiggs retired the side, and Carlow gained the lead in the bottom of the second. Back-to-back walks and a sacrifice bunt by Deborah Garza (San Antonio, Texas/Robert G. Cole HS) put runners on second and third for the Celtics. An error scored two unearned runs, and a ground out from Erica Keeley (Munhall, Pa./Steel Valley HS) added another to put Carlow ahead, 3-1.
The Pioneers scored four runs on five hits to regain a 5-3 advantage in the top of the third before Wiggs picked up a strikeout to end the barrage.
Carlow returned the favor in the bottom half of the frame.
A walk, an infield single and a single up the middle off the bat of Gianna Ferrieri (South Park, Pa./Seton LaSalle Catholic HS) cut Alfred State's lead to one. A walk loaded the bases, and Wiggs drew a walk to bring in another run to tie the game.
Garza stepped to the plate and hit a three-run triple to right field to put the Celtics ahead 8-5 and forced the Pioneers to make a pitching change.
A hit batter and a walk loaded the bases once again, and a wild pitch allowed Garza to score from third. An error, an RBI single to left field from Kamyia Morris (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton LaSalle Catholic HS) and a two-out infield single by Wiggs gave Carlow a 12-5 lead before Alfred State ended the inning.
The Celtics escaped a bases-loaded situation in the fourth and added another unearned run in the bottom half of the frame.
Carlow scored the go-ahead run in the sixth. Carrah Scardina (Natrona Heights, Pa./Highlands HS) hit a one-out single up the middle, and a ground out moved her over to second. Ferrieri claimed the game-winner with a single through the right side to bring Scardina home and enact the run rule.
Ferrieri hit 2 for 3 with three RBI, Wiggs went 2 for 2 with two RBI and Morris hit 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Hannah Powers was saddled with the loss for the Pioneers after allowing nine runs (six earned) on three hits with five walks in two innings. Trinity Scott went 2 for 4 and Nicole Youngberg tripled with two RBI.
Game 2: L, 4-1
Sophia Petrie scattered four hits, walked eight and struck out seven as Alfred State held Carlow scoreless for six innings to claim the win in the nightcap.
Carlow scored its lone run in the bottom of the first inning. Lexi Berta (DuBois, Pa./DuBois Central Catholic) drew a walk, and a one-out ground out moved her into scoring position. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases, and Garza drew a walk to bring the run across.
An RBI single tied the game in the top of the second, and neither team scored until the fifth. An error, a walk and an RBI single gave the Pioneers the lead before a fly out to center field and a runner leaving third base early ended the inning prematurely.
Both teams went down in order in the sixth, and Alfred State added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh. A single and a steal put a runner in scoring position, and a two-out single and a double brought both runs across. Alfred State left two Carlow runners stranded in the bottom of the inning to secure the victory.
Berta went 2 for 3 at the plate, and Cailyn Lucas (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills HS) suffered the loss after allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits with four walks and two strikeouts in four innings. Ferrieri tossed the final three innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits with a strikeout.
Youngberg went 2 for 4 with two RBI to lead the Pioneers.
Carlow travels to La Roche University for a 3 p.m. AMCC doubleheader Tuesday.