Olivia Porter scored from third on a wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Pitt-Johnstown softball team to a 4-3, walk-off victory over Mercyhurst in Wednesday's first game of a PSAC West doubleheader at V.E. Erickson Complex. The Lakers took the nightcap, 10-0 in five innings. The Mountain Cats, winners of five of their last six games, are 15-10 overall and 3-1 in the PSAC West.
In game one, Cheyenne Hindman gave Mercyhurst a quick lead with a solo homer to center in the top of the first.
It stayed that way until the bottom of the sixth when the Mountain Cats battled back with three runs. Porter and
Taylor Mendicino each singled ahead of
Kayla Miehl's two-run single through the left side that put Pitt-Johnstown on top.
Tori Radvan then followed with an RBI single that chased home pinch runner
Hailei Markee to make it 3-1.
The Lakers answered to tie it in the top of the seventh of Sarah Koscho's two-out two-run home run to left.
However, Pitt-Johnstown walked-off with the win with a run in the bottom of the frame. Porter reached on a two-out fielder's choice, moved to third on Mendicino's single, and scored on a wild pitch.
Mountain Cat starter
Alyssa Hileman improved to 9-4 with the complete-game effort. Hileman limited Mercyhurst to three runs on six hits, while striking out one and not allowing a walk.
Mendicino went 3-for-4 with a double, Miehl drove in two with a base hit, and Porter and Radvan each had hits for Pitt-Johnstown.
In game two, Mercyhurst took advantage of a Pitt-Johnstown error and jumped out to a 4-0 second inning lead on Kacie Irwin's grand slam to left-center.
Allison Dijidas' solo homer and a two-run single from Kaci Alderson in the Lakers half of the third made it 7-0, before Mercyhurst added three more runs in the fifth.
Carly Santillo and Porter accounted for the Pitt-Johnstown hits.
Miehl suffered the loss and slipped to 2-2 after allowing seven runs (3 earned) on five hits over the first 2.1 innings.
Julie Shinavski pitched the final 2,2 innings and surrendered three runs on six hits.
Irwin was 3-for-3 with a homer and six RBI to lead Mercyhurst.
Morgan Hilty improved to 7-5 after holding the Mountain Cats scoreless on two hits in five innings.
With the split, the Lakers are now 19-10 overall and 2-4 in conference-play.
The Mountain Cats visit Gannon on Thursday and at Edinboro on Friday for a pair of PSAC West doubleheaders. Pitt-Johnstown will return home on April 23 to host a conference doubleheader against Seton Hill on April 23 at V.E. Erickson Complex.
