PITTSBURGH, Pa. (March 18)- The Saint Vincent softball team split a doubleheader on the road at La Roche on Tuesday afternoon.

The Bearcats (7-5) fell by just one run, 8-7, in the opening game of the day before an offensive outburst, 20-4 win in game two against the Red Hawks (2-8)

Game 1- La Roche 8, Saint Vincent 7

In the first game of the day, Saint Vincent held a 5-2 lead after the second inning. The Red Hawks went on to outscore the Bearcats 6-2 over the rest of the game to hand the Bearcats the game one loss.

Eva Farone, Alyssa Henderson, and Shayna Perigo all totaled two hits for the Bearcats in the loss. Josey Michalski, Haley Hamilton, Lily Koller, Taylor Williams, and Dakota Hershberger all recorded one hit and one RBI as well. At the top of the lineup, Mackenzie Favero recorded an RBI and run scored for the Bearcats.

Olivia Bushore took the loss in the circle for Saint Vincent. Bushore pitched 3.2 innings in relief of A.J. Arnal who started the game. Bushore allowed two earned runs on eight hits, while picking up five strikeouts.

After a scoreless first inning, the Bearcats erupted for five runs in the second inning. First, Hamilton recorded an RBI-single, scoring Koller and Williams followed with an RBI-sacrifice fly, scoring Alyssa Henderson to put the Bearcats up 2-0. Hershberger then ripped an RBI-double to left center, scoring Hamilton and Perigo later scored on an error to increase the SVC lead to 4-0. The Bearcats lead went to 5-0 after an RBI-groundout from Favero scored Hershberger.

La Roche began their comeback with two runs in the bottom of the second, before adding four runs in the third as SVC found themselves trailing 6-5.

Saint Vincent tied the game at 6-6 in the fourth on a Koller RBI-single to center, scoring Favero. The Redhawks added two more runs in the fifth to regain the lead at 8-6. 

SVC added one more run in the sixth on an RBI-single to center by Michalski, scoring Farone to cut the lead to 8-7. However, Saint Vincent was shut down in the bottom of the inning as they fell to the Red Hawks in the opening game of the doubleheader.

The Bearcats scored their seven runs on 11 hits, committing one error, while La Roche scored their eight runs on 14 hits, committing four errors.

Game 2- Saint Vincent 20, La Roche 4 (5 Innings)

Saint Vincent erupted for 20 runs on 23 hits in the Bearcats blow out 20-4 win in the second game of the day. A seven run first inning and nine run fourth inning, mixed between a run in the second and three in the third propelled Saint Vincent to the victory to salvage the doubleheader split.

Nine Saint Vincent hitters recorded at least two hits in the win. Taylor Williams led the way with three hits, two RBI's, and two runs scored. Eva Farone, Abby Bauer, and Josie Michalski both added two hits and two RBI's as well. Dakota Hershberger and Anita Szymoniak both added two hits and three RBI's, while Macie McHugh, Olivia Goodwin, and Mackenzie Favero totaled two hits and one RBI each.

A.J. Arnal, Lily Koller, Shayna Perigo, and April Earnest all recorded one hit each in the big win for the Bearcats as well.

Meghan Braun picked up her fourth win of the season on the mound for SVC as well. She pitched three innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits, while striking out one batter. Madi Zigarovich pitched two innings in relief, allowing two earned runs on three hits.

The Bearcats quickly jumped out of the gates with a seven run top of the first inning. SVC scored their seven runs on six hits in the inning. Michalski, Williams, Hershberger, Szymoniak, and Farone all drove in runs in the inning for Saint Vincent to put them up 7-0.

La Roche scored a run in the bottom of the first to cut the Saint Vincent lead to 7-1. Hershberger then picked up another RBI-single, scoring Williams to put Saint Vincent up 8-1 going into the third. 

SVC went on to outscore La Roche 12-2 over the next two innings, including a nine run fourth inning. Neither team scored in the fifth as the game was called due to the eight run mercy rule to give Saint Vincent the victory.

Saint Vincent scored their 20 runs on 23 hits, not committing a single error in the win. La Roche on the other hand scored their four runs on seven hits.

SVC has a quick turnaround, returning to action tomorrow, Wednesday March 19 with another non-conference doubleheader on the road at Penn State-Beaver. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. in Monaca, Pa. tomorrow afternoon.