FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mountie split pair of games at WVWU Tournament in Virgina – Freshmen Emily Crandell and Liz Pieniazek team up for shutout in nightcap

Davis & Elkins Boxscore
Ohio Valley Boxscore

SALEM, VA – Freshmen Emily Crandell and Liz Pieniazek combined to fire a three-hit shutout in a 4-0 win over Ohio Valley in the nightcap of a two games at the WVWU Tournament in Salem, VA Saturday.

Mansfield lost the opener 4-3 to Davis & Elkins.

Youth ruled in the nightcap. Beside Crandell's and Peiniazek's impressive efforts on the mound, fellow freshman Kate Pratt came through with the bat going 3-4 with a home run and three RBI's.

Pratt gave Mansfield the early lead hitting a two-run home run, her second round-tripper of the season in the first inning to give the Mountaineers what would prove to be an insurmountable lead.

Mansfield added another run by Dixon in the second on a sacrifice fly by Danielle Long and scored the final run of the game in the sixth when Jordan Rishel doubled and scored on a Pratt single. 

Crandell started and went the first four innings to get her second win of the season. The freshman scattered three hits while striking out five and walking one. Pieniazek came in and threw three perfect innings striking out two.

Chara Dixon went 3-3 with three stolen bases.

In the opener Davis & Elkins took a 3-2 lead with two runs in the top of the fifth inning with one of the runs coming off a Mansfield error.

Davis & Elkins added a cushion run in the top of the sixth but Mansfield scored a run in the bottom of the inning on a RBI single by Rishel. Mansfield had an opportunity to tie the game with the bases loaded and one out but two strikeouts ended the threat.

In the seventh, Janelle Antes, who hit a solo home run earlier in the game, led off with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. She moved to third on a fielder's choice but couldn't advance any further.

Senior Melissa Baer went the distance on the mound giving up eight hits over seven innings while striking out four to suffer her first loss in three decisions this year.

Britne Bacca got the win for Davis and Elkins going 5.1 innings and striking out five. Alanna Jones got the save allowing no hits over the last 1.2 innings while striking out three.

Mansfield will conclude the tournament with a game against tournament host West Virginia Wesleyan tomorrow morning.