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LATROBE, Pa. (March 17) - The Saint Vincent softball team split a doubleheader with Pitt-Greensburg in a battle of Westmoreland County teams. UPG took the first game 4-0 before SVC responded in game two with a 9-1 victory in five innings.

UPG gained an early lead in game one, using a leadoff double to start the game and eventually had a runner come around on a two-out RBI single.

SVC had plenty of opportunities to strike offensively but couldn't find a clutch hit. The Bearcats left two runners on in the second inning. Then in the third inning SVC had a runner thrown out at the plate on a Shelby Noel double to end the inning. The Bearcats then left the bases loaded in the fourth inning, before leaving two runners on in the fifth and a runner at third base in the sixth. The visiting Bobcats added three insurance runs in the seventh to put things out of reach for SVC. The Bearcats left nine runners on in the game.

Samantha Emert took her first loss of the season in the circle, dropping her record to 3-1 in 2016. Emert pitched seven innings, allowing four earned runs, while striking out two and walking two.

In game two, SVC put up four runs in the bottom of the second to claim the lead. Sarah Swettlen recorded an RBI single to get things started before freshman outfielder Mackenzie Gostomski drove home two runs with a RBI hit of her own, making it 3-0 Bearcats. Noel added an RBI groundout to make it 4-0.

UPG answered with a single run in the top of the third but left the bases loaded and cost themselves a chance to get back in the game. The Bearcats then put up a five-spot in the bottom of the fourth. Gostomski doubled home two more runs, making it 6-1 SVC. Noel and Adisey added an RBI sac fly each to move the edge to 8-1. Finally, Emert doubled home Emily Duerr to close the scoring at 9-1. SVC recorded the final three outs to close the book on UPG and gain the split.

Duerr earned the pitching win in game two to move her season record to 2-2. The sophomore lefty tossed five innings, allowing one run while scattering seven hits. Duerr struck out three and walked two.

Gostomski was the hitting hero in game two, going 2-for-2 with 4 RBI and a run scored. Swettlen also recorded two hits, while scoring two runs and driving home a run.

SVC moves to 5-5 overall, while UPG is now 1-9.

The Bearcats return to action when they host Penn State Beaver on Saturday, March 19. Start time is slated for 1 p.m.