NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. (May 5) - After dropping their Presidents' Athletic Conference Championship Tournament opener to Westminster College, the Saint Vincent softball team responded with an extra-inning win over Bethany College to stay alive for the second day of the tourney.

Saint Vincent (24-9), the tournament's No. 4 seed, fell 7-0 to No. 1 Westminster in the opener, before regrouping for a 3-2, 8-inning win over #3 Bethany in game two. 

With the win, SVC stays alive in the double-elimination tournament and will play its second elimination game on Friday at 11 a.m. against the winner of Thursday's final game between Westminster and No. 2 Waynesburg.  

GAME ONE: Westminster 7, Saint Vincent 0
 
In the first game of the 2022 Presidents' Athletic Conference Softball Tournament, host Westminster jumped out to an early lead and Saint Vincent was unable to recover, falling to the top-seeded Titans 7-0.
 
The Titans did the bulk of their damage over the opening two innings, plating two runs in the first and four in the second. Saint Vincent's offense produced seven hits, led by 2-hit performances from Jessica LaPorte and Mary Maceda, but stranded seven runners.
 
After Westminster took the 2-0 lead in the first, the Bearcats had their best chance to score in the top of the second. Kelsey Tobin and Leah Yoder each racked one-out singles, before Maceda was hit by a pitch to lead the bases. Olivia Persin then smacked a shot up the middle, but Titan shortstop Alexis Yates made a diving stop and touched the second base bag to end the inning.
 
The Titans added onto the lead in the second, scoring four runs on four hits to open up a 6-0 lead.
 
Saint Vincent recorded at least one hit in four of the final five innings, but was unable to put together a sustained rally, seeing its six-game winning streak come to an end.
 
Olivia Bushore started in the circle for SVC and took the loss, allowing six runs (four earned) on five hits with two strikeouts. Haley Bicko, the reigning PAC Pitcher of the Week, threw the final 4.0 innings and allowed one unearned run on three hits.
 
Saint Vincent recorded at least one hit in four of the final five innings, but could not put together a rally
 
 
GAME TWO: Saint Vincent 3, Bethany 2 (8 inn.)
 
The nightcap was a pitcher's duel for the first seven innings, with the two teams trading zeroes through regulation. The offenses then awoke in extra innings, with SVC scoring three runs in the top of the eighth before holding off a late Bethany rally that produced two runs.
 
In the decisive eighth inning, Mackenzie Larimer drew a leadoff walk, before Persin and LaPorte hit back-to-back singles to load the bases. Alexandra Dillner followed by lofting a ball to the right field corner for a single, plating a pair of runs. After the ensuing throw was misplayed, LaPorte scampered home with SVC's third run.
The Bison refused to go away, opening the bottom of the eighth with three straight singles to cut the gap to 3-1. After a walk loaded the bases, a sacrifice fly brought home Bethany's second run, but Bushore closed the game with a swinging strikeout to escape the jam and keep the Bearcats alive.
 
Bushore shook off the tough opening game by throwing a masterpiece in game two. The freshman threw all eight innings to earn the win, scattering nine hits with two strikeouts.

Katelyn Stokan finished 3-for-4 at the plate to lead both sides, while Persin, LaPorte, Dillner, Bicko and Yoder all added singles.
 
Bushore first piched out of trouble in the bottom of the second, stranding the bases loaded after hitting a batter and allowing two singles. The Bison again loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth with three singles, but again, Bushore danced through the raindrops to end the frame with a pair of fly balls.
 
The teams would continue to strand runners and trade zeroes throughout regulation, until the decisive seventh inning.
 
Jenna Wise started and went the distance for Bethany in the circle, allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits with five strikeouts.
 
Bethany, the No. 3 seed in the PAC tournament, closes the season with a 19-17 overall record.