Game 1 – Mount Aloysius 2, Pitt-Greensburg 1
Pitt-Greensburg battled in a tightly contested opener but came up just short in a 2-1 loss to Mount Aloysius on Monday afternoon.
The Mounties struck first in the bottom of the opening inning, capitalizing on a pair of singles and a Bobcat error to push across an unearned run and take an early 1-0 lead. Despite the early deficit, Pitt-Greensburg pitcher Autumn Powell settled in and turned in a strong performance, limiting Mount Aloysius to just three hits while striking out seven over six innings of work.
Offensively, the Bobcats struggled to generate opportunities against Mounties starter Jessica Koptcho, who kept Pitt-Greensburg off the scoreboard through the first three innings.
That changed in the fourth.
Shelby Cloak led off the inning with a solo home run to left field, tying the game at 1-1 and providing the Bobcats' only hit of the contest.
Mount Aloysius answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning, using a triple to set up a go-ahead RBI groundout to regain a 2-1 advantage.
Powell continued to keep the game within reach, retiring nine of the final ten batters she faced, but the Bobcats were unable to solve Koptcho down the stretch. Pitt-Greensburg went down in order in each of the final three innings as the Mounties held on for the win.
Game 2 – Pitt-Greensburg 10, Mount Aloysius 8
Pitt-Greensburg responded in emphatic fashion in game two, erupting for 17 hits in a 10-8 victory to earn a split of the doubleheader.
The Bobcats wasted no time getting on the board, as Shelby Cloak and Jessica Dunn opened the game with back-to-back doubles, with Dunn driving in the game's first run for an early lead.
Mount Aloysius answered with three runs in the bottom of the first, but Pitt-Greensburg quickly punched back. Cloak delivered an RBI single in the second inning to trim the deficit to one and spark the offense.
The turning point came in the third inning.
Pitt-Greensburg exploded for five runs on five hits to take control. Sadie Kelly tied the game with an RBI single before Madyson Hart delivered a two-run double to give the Bobcats the lead. Moments later, Cloak capped the rally with a two-run home run, extending the advantage to 7-3.
The Bobcats continued to build on their lead in the fourth inning when Hunter Taylor launched a solo home run, and the offense stayed hot in the fifth. Hart led off with a home run, and Cloak added her second homer of the game later in the frame to stretch the lead to 10-4.
Mount Aloysius mounted a late push, scoring twice in the fifth and adding two more in the seventh to cut the deficit to 10-8 and bring the tying run to the plate.
With the pressure mounting, Nicole Palmer entered in relief and recorded the final out to secure the save and seal the Bobcats' victory.
Cloak led the way with a dominant 5-for-5 performance, driving in four runs and hitting two home runs. Dunn added four hits and an RBI, while Hart drove in three runs as part of a balanced offensive attack.
Day in Review
Across the doubleheader, Pitt-Greensburg combined for 11 runs on 18 hits, highlighted by a breakout offensive performance in game two after being limited to just one hit in the opener.
Shelby Cloak paced the Bobcats with a standout day at the plate, going 6-for-8 with three home runs and five RBIs. Jessica Dunn added four hits, while Madyson Hart delivered key extra-base production with a home run, the first of her collegiate career, and three RBIs. Hunter Taylor also added a home run, her second of the season.
In the circle, Autumn Powell and Kaetlin Caylao combined to throw 12.2 innings, keeping the Bobcats competitive throughout the day, while Nicole Palmer earned the save in game two to preserve the split.
Pitt-Greensburg moves to 11-17 overall following the doubleheader, taking one of two on the road against Mount Aloysius. They return home Saturday against Alfred State, with first pitch scheduled for 1PM.
