Pitt-Johnstown got 12 strong innings in two appearances in the circle from
Ashley Pagliei, but Mercyhurst was able to sweep a PSAC Western Division doubleheader, Monday afternoon in Erie with a 6-0 victory in the opener and a 3-2, walk-off win in the nightcap. With the losses, the Mountain Cats are now 4-14 overall and 4-12 in conference-play.
In game one, Mercyhurst hit a pair of two run homers in a six-run first inning and went on to the 6-0 victory.
The Lakers struck for six first inning runs off of Pitt-Johnstown starter
Kristen Coffay. Celeste Ponce's two out single down the right field line allowed Brianne Egelston and Cheyenne Hindman to score, before Sarah Koscho's two-run homer to left field made it 4-0. Following a walk to Josey Moorhead, Natalie Graff belted a two-run homerun down the left field line.
Pagliei came in and got the final out of the first inning and held Mercyhurst scoreless on five hits over the final 5.1 innings.
Coffay started but only lasted 2/3 of an inning. Coffay, who slipped to 3-5, allowed six runs on five hits in the opening inning.
Taylor Mendicino,
Stacey Walling,
Kristie Radvan, and
Ali Belgiovane all had hits, and
Laura Fox added a bunt single for the Mountain Cats.
Koscho and Graff each hit two-run homers, and Ponce drove in two with a base hit to lead the Lakers.
Mikaela Schramski improved to 4-2 for Mercyhurst after tossing a five-hit, complete-game shutout. Schramski also struck out four and walked two.
In game two, the Lakers erased a 2-0 deficit with three runs over the final two innings.
Pagliei, who pitched 5.1 innings in the opener, got the start in the nightcap and locked up with Morgan Hilty in a scoreless game until Pitt-Johnstown scratched out two runs in the top of the sixth.
With one out in the sixth,
Olivia Porter singled to center and
Hailei Markee walked. After a groundout moved the runners to second and third,
Carly Santillo singled to left to drive home Porter, and a Mercyhurst error allowed Markee to score.
Koscho's second homer of the day, a one-out solo shot in the Lakers half of the sixth cut the deficit in half.
The Lakers answered with two more in the bottom of the seventh to walk off with the sweep. The Lakers got lead off singles from Chloe McQuestion and Madison Fry. Pagliei was able to get the next two outs, but Allison Dejidas singled home McQuestion, and Fry scored the game-winner on a two-out wild pitch.
Pagliei (0-4) suffered the tough loss after pitching 6.2 innings and allowing three runs on nine hits while fanning two and walking one. In 12 innings in the circle on the day, Pagliei held Mercyhurst to just three runs.
Porter went 2-for-4 with a run, and
Tori Radvan collected two hits for Pitt-Johnstown. Santillo had an RBI single, and Markee chipped-in a hit.
Kaitlin Hoffner (3-1) picked-up the win in relief of Hilty after holding hitless over the final 1.1 innings.
Fry and McQuestion each had two hits for Mercyhurst, which improved to 11-7 overall and 11-7 in the PSAC West.
Pitt-Johnstown will begin a four-game, home-and-home PSAC Western Division series at Indiana (PA) on Friday, before hosting the Crimson Hawks at V.E. Erickson Complex on Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m.
