LATROBE, Pa. (Apr. 12)- The Saint Vincent softball team earned a doubleheader sweep against Franciscan on Saturday afternoon at Greater Latrobe High School.
The Bearcats (15-13, 3-7 PAC) were helped by a
Josey Michalski walk-off single to down the Barons (4-16, 1-11 PAC) 3-2 in the opener of the doubleheader. Saint Vincent followed with an 8-0 run-rule victory in the second game of the doubleheader.
Prior to the doubleheader, Saint Vincent honored their three seniors,
Meghan Braun,
Olivia Bushore, and
Olivia Goodwin.
Game 1- Saint Vincent 3, Franciscan 2
The Bearcats led 2-1 through five innings, before the Barons tied the game in the top of the sixth. After a scoreless bottom of the sixth and top of the seventh, Michalski walked it off for the Bearcats with a single that scored
Eva Farone to give SVC the game one victory.
Michalski went 2-4 with the game-winning RBI in the win. At the top of the lineup, Farone went 4-4, scoring the game-winning run for the Bearcats.
Mackenzie Favero went 2-3 with an RBI as well, while
Taylor Williams added a hit and run scored.
A.J. Arnal earned the win in relief for Saint Vincent, pitching 1.2 scoreless innings, striking out four Franciscan batters.
Meghan Braun pitched 5.1 strong innings as well, allowing just two earned runs on seven hits, while striking out four and walking one batter, picking up the no-decision.
Saint Vincent got the scoring started in the first inning. After a throwing error,
Dakota Hershberger took advantage coming around to score to put the Bearcats up 1-0. SVC added a second run in the second inning, as Favero knocked in Williams with an RBI-fielders choice to increase the Saint Vincent lead to 2-0.
After a scoreless third inning, Franciscan began to chip away at the Saint Vincent lead. The Barons scored their first run in the fourth and later tied the game in the sixth inning.
SVC shut the Barons down in the seventh, setting the table for the walk-off in the bottom of the inning. In the bottom of the inning, Michalski ripped an RBI-single to left field, allowing Farone to score from third base to secure the win for Saint Vincent.
The Bearcats final line score was three runs on 10 hits, while committing two errors. Franciscan scored their two runs on seven hits, committing two errors as well.
Game 2- Saint Vincent 8, Franciscan 0 (5 Innings)
The Bearcats dominated in the finale of the doubleheader. Saint Vincent scored eight runs on 11 hits, cruising to the five-inning run-rule victory.
Eva Farone continued her big day at the plate, going 3-3 with one RBI and two runs scored.
Haley Hamilton and
Lily Koller both added two hits each, along with one run scored and one RBI each as well.
Josey Michalski added a hit and RBI, while
Dakota Hershberger,
Abby Bauer, and
Olivia Goodwin all recorded hits as well. Bauer also drove one run in, while Goodwin scored a run.
Olivia Bushore picked up the win in the circle for SVC, pitching five shutout innings, allowing just two hits, while striking out one and walking two.
Just as they did in game one, the Bearcats got the scoring started with a first inning run. Hamilton knocked in Farone with an RBI-single to center to put the Bearcats up 1-0.
SVC broke the game open with a five run second inning. Farone, Michalski, Hamilton and
Alyssa Henderson all recorded RBI's for Saint Vincent in the inning to put the Bearcats up 6-0.
After a scoreless fourth inning, the Bearcats won the game in the bottom of the fifth. Bauer recorded an RBI-single, scoring Hamilton, while Koller won the game for SVC with an RBI-double to right center, scoring Bauer to enforce the eight-run rule.
Franciscan totaled just two hits in the second game of the doubleheader.
Saint Vincent has a quick turnaround as they return to action tomorrow, Sunday, April 12 with a PAC road doubleheader at W&J. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
