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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Bauder's Homer Lifts Mansfield to 13-11 Win over Le Moyne

MANSFIELD – In an afternoon dedicated to hope, Courtney Bauder's three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning rallied Mansfield to a 13-11 win over Le Moyne in the nightcap of a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at Helen Lutes Field.

Le Moyne rallied to win the opener 4-3.

The Mansfield University softball team sponsored Beat Cancer with a Bat Day before a large and receptive crowd at Lutes Field. Prior to the doubleheader, Pam Kathcart, the assistant Director of Alumni Relations and Class of 2001 graduate had the honor of throwing out the first pitch. Kathcart is a breast cancer survivor and the day was filled with pink reminders of the fight against breast cancer.

There were more twist and turns and highs and lows than an amusement park roller coaster during the afternoon for both teams.

Mansfield's come from behind victory in the nightcap was especially rewarding after Le Moyne rallied with a two-run homer in the top of the seventh to win the opener.

In the nightcap, Le Moyne got a run of Mansfield starter Kate Pratt in the first inning before the Mountaineers responded with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning.

Bauder was hit by a pitch to leadoff and moved to second when Stephanie Simmeth beat out a sac bunt. Pratt then lofted a ball to the warning track that was dropped with Bauder scoring on the play. Mansfield got the final two runs of the inning on a two-out single by Kaitlyn Harris.
Le Moyne cut the lead to 3-2 with a run in the top of the third.

Mansfield got three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning when Taylor Stupski double to lead off the inning and scored on a double by Bauder. Danielle Long later singled in two more runs giving Mansfield a 6-2 lead.

But Le Moyne countered with five runs in the top of the fifth inning, including a three-run home run by Fran Kiernan to chase Pratt from the mound and take a 7-6 lead.

Mansfield retook the lead with four runs in the bottom of the inning, all of them coming with two outs. Bauder, Stephanie Simmeth, Pratt and Megan Miller each had RBIs giving the Mountaineers a 10-7 advantage.

Le Moyne countered again, this time scoring four runs in the top of the sixth inning, two of them coming off a Kirsten Trotta home run to retake the lead at 11-10.

Mansfield would rally again – this time for good – in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Harris singled. One out later, Amanda Goodwin hit a ball deep into the hole between third and short for an infield hit giving Mansfield runners on first and second with two outs. Bauder drilled a three-run home run over the centerfield fence for a 13-11 lead.

Pratt, who had been pulled from the mound in the fifth inning, was inserted back in at pitcher in the sixth. Pratt retired the side in order, including striking out the first two batters, to final get credit for the win.

The two teams combined for 27 hits in the game including 14 by Mansfield. Bauder went 3-4 with a double, home run and five RBI's while Simmeth, Long, and Harris each had two hits.

Pratt worked a total of six innings in the game, striking out six and walking one to earn her eighth win of the season.
Kiernan led the Le Moyne offense going 3-4 with four RBI.

In the opener, Le Moyne went up 2-0 with runs in the second and third inning before Mansfield, which was limited to just three hits in the game, got untracked when Pratt gave the Mountaineers a 3-2 lead with a three-run home run. It marked Pratt's 14 homer of the season.

In the top of the seventh, Le Moyne scored twice with what proved to be the winning run scoring on an RBI single by Trotta.

Mansfield improves to 22-12 overall, the Mountaineers most wins since posting a 24-13-1 mark in 2005.

Mansfield will host Lock Haven on Friday in a key PSAC Central doubleheader in the final home games of the season and Senior Day.