Mounties Drop Doubleheader at UPJ

JOHNSTOWN – Rachael Sterner had four hits including a double, but it wouldn't be enough as Mansfield dropped a division opening PSAC Central doubleheader at Pitt-Johnstown Friday afternoon.
Mansfield lost the opener 6-2 with UPJ scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth. UPJ rallied from a 4-0 deficit to win the nightcap 12-6 despite 14 Mansfield hits.

In the opener, Mansfield would get on the board first with a run in the top of the second inning. Laura Lawson singled with two outs and stole second base. Kaitlyn Hewitt then reached on an error with Lawson scoring on the play.

UPJ tied the game with an unearned run in the bottom half of the inning and would take a 2-1 lead with a solo run in the third.

The score remained the same until UPJ added another run in the fifth on a RBI single by Amber Maurer to increase the lead to 3-1.

Mansfield made it a one run game when Sterner doubled in the sixth with one out and later scored on a triple by Kayla Hahn to cut the lead to 3-2.

But UPJ scored three runs on four hits in the bottom half of the inning to put the game out of reach.

Ashley Inman started and took the loss for Mansfield while Melissa Wagner went the distance for UPJ to pick up her second win of the season. Sterner had two of Mansfield's four hits in the game.

In the nightcap, Mansfield jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first when Melanie Taylor led off the game with a single and advanced to second on a single by Sterner. Megan Miller than stepped to the plate and drilled a double down the left field line to drive in both runners.

The Mountaineers increased the lead to 4-0 with a pair of runs in the second inning. Casey Pierce singled to lead off the inning and advanced to third on an error before scoring on a bunt by Lawson. Taylor followed with a single and both runners moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by Leah McGovern. Lawson later scored on a single by Sterner.

UPJ answered with five runs of its own in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead with MeKenna Kern and Maurer each driving in two runs.

Mansfield retook the lead with two more runs in the top of the third with Hahn and Koryn Wickwire singling to start the inning and both later scoring on a single by Pierce for a 6-5 Mountaineer lead.
But UPJ rallied with three runs in the bottom half of the inning and would add four more later in the game to pull out the win.

Freshman Brooke Roys took the loss in relief of starter Sierra Storm. Emily Moore went the distance to pick up the win for UPJ.

Mansfield had 14 hits but stranded 11 runners. Taylor and Pierce each had three hits with Sterner, Megan Miller and Wickwire adding two hits each.

Mansfield travels to Lock Haven on Saturday.