PITTSBURGH, Pa. (March 24) – The Saint Vincent softball team split a Sunday non-conference doubleheader at La Roche University, dropping the opener by a 10-6 score, before bouncing back with a 5-3 win in the nightcap.
 
In game one, Saint Vincent (10-6) fell victim to a slow start and was unable to come back late, before the nightcap saw the Bearcats score three runs in the top of the seventh inning to pull away for the victory.
 
GAME ONE – La Roche 10, Saint Vincent 6
The host Redhawks jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning, and despite scoring six runs over the final three frames, the Bearcats could not complete the comeback.
 
La Roche outhit Saint Vincent 11-7 in the win, while also taking advantage of seven free passes issued by Bearcat pitchers.
 
Nicolette Kloes and Haley Bicko each had two hits for Saint Vincent, with Kloes doubling, driving in two runs, and scoring twice, while April Earnest, Jessica LaPorte Haley Bicko and Katie Lampe each singled.
 
Starter Kiley Meek started and took the loss for the Bearcats, and was the first of three hurlers used by SVC on the day.
 
The Redhawks got off to a fast start, sending nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the first and scoring five runs on three hits and four walks.
 
They added on with a single tally in the bottom of the third to take a 6-0 lead, before the Bearcat offense showed its first signs of life in the top of the fourth.
 
Earnest and La Porte opened the inning with back-to-back singles, before Bicko smacked an RBI single to right field to bring home Earnest with SVC's first run. Lily Rush was then walked, and Lampe followed with a ground ball to the left side. The shortstop unsuccessfully tried to nab Bicko at second, and Kloes, running for La Porte, scored the Bearcats' second run of the innings. Karissa Seaman followed with an RBI ground out to plate Bicko and cut the deficit in half, 6-3.
 
After two scoreless frames, La Roche added on in the bottom of the sixth, scoring four runs on five hits to increase its lead to 10-3.
 
The Bearcats then attempted to rally in the top of the seventh. Olivia Goodwin walked to lead off, and was retired on a fielder's choice by Persin. Earnest then drew a free pass, before Kloes doubled to left field to bring home both runners to cut the gap to 10-5. Two batters later, Bicko singled up the middle to plate Kloes with SVC's sixth run, but the Bearcats would get no closer, with a ground out ending the game.
 
GAME TWO – Saint Vincent 5, La Roche 2
Freshman A.J. Arnal prevailed in a pitcher's duel in game two, as the Bearcats broke open a 2-2 tie with three runs in their final at-bats to secure the victory.
 
The Bearcats took a 1-0 lead just three batters into the nightcap, as Mackenzie Favero led off with a single, moved to second on Persin's sacrifice bunt, and scored on Alyssa Henderson's opposite-field RBI single.
 
La Roche tied the game in the bottom of the first without the aid of a hit. Leadoff hitter Emma Bizay struck out but reached first on a wild pitch, and would eventually score an unearned after an error, sacrifice bunt, and sacrifice fly.
 
The teams traded zeroes over the next two frames until La Roche used a double and a pair of two-out singles to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third.
 
Saint Vincent answered right back in the top of the fourth. Bicko led off with a walk, before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Zoe Mangan and moving to third on a Kendall McConnell ground out. Arnal then beat out an infield single to plate Bicko with the game-tying tally.
 
After the Bearcats stranded two runners on base in both the fifth and sixth innings, the Redhawks looked primed to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with one out after a walk and two singles. Arnal would then bear down, getting a strikeout and fly out to leave the bases loaded and preserve the tie.
 
Henderson opened the top of the seventh with a single to center, and gave way to pinch runner Lampe. Shaya Perigo advanced Lampe to second with a sacrifice bunt, and Kloes then came through with another big hit, knocking a single up the middle to plate Lampe and give the Bearcats a 3-2 lead. Bicko followed with a single, putting runners at first and second, and two batters later, McConnell singled to right to plate Kloes and give SVC a 4-2 advantage. The Bearcats wasted little time in adding into the lead, as they then executed a perfect double steal, with McConnell taking second and Bicko crossing the plate to make it 5-2.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Saint Vincent reliever Olivia Bushore pitched around a pair of singles to record the final three outs, earning her first save of the year and preserving the SVC win.
 
The Bearcars racked 11 hits in the win, with Henderson and Arnal each going 3-for-4, and Favero 2-for-4.
 
Arnal turned in a solid effort in the circle to improve to 2-0 on the season. The rookie allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits, with six strikeouts and just one walk. Bushore earned her second career save after pitching around the two singles to throw a scoreless seventh.  
 
The Bearcats are slated to return to action on Tuesday, March 26, traveling to Ohio to take on Presidents' Athletic Conference foe Franciscan University in a 3;30 p.m. doubleheader.