PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Mansfield University softball tea, (2-0 overall) kicked off the 2023 season with a 5-0, 6-4 sweep over Chestnut Hill College (0-2 overall) on the road on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 26.

Danielle Goff earned the victory in her first start on the mound, tossing seven scoreless innings, while striking out seven and only allowing four hits.

Morgan Mesaris (double) led the Mountaineers offense with two RBI, while Kayla Vonstein (triple) and Anastasia Berardi (double) finished with a pair of hits. Gabby Drumm and Lauren Watson also drove in runs.

The Mounties didn't wait long to open the scoring, plating three runs in the top of the first inning, highlighted by a two-RBI double by Mesaris.

Drum drove in a run in the third and Watson added an insurance RBI in the seventh to round out the scoring.

For the Griffins, Abbie Alt-Ambri landed the loss, allowing five runs (two earned) on five hits, while striking out eight. Three different Griffins notched a hit.

In game two, Annabella Putnam went all seven innings, allowing four runs and striking out four to earn her first victory in the circle in her first career start. Putnam did a great job pitching to contact, securing 10 ground balls, while the Mountaineer defense didn't commit a single error.

Vonstein continued to excel out of the leadoff spot, scoring two runs and driving in three with her second triple of the day. Madison Bailey, Shannon Perlungher, Drum (double), and Fallon Kelley also drove in runs, while Kylie Bornman finished with two hits, including a double.

The Mounties built a 3-1 lead through two and ½ innings before the Griffins plated a pair to knot the score at 3-3 heading into the fourth.

However, the Mounties responded with three runs in the top half of the fourth, highlighted by a 2-RBI triple from Vonstein, to regain the lead, 6-3.

The Griffins scored a run in the fifth to cut their deficit to 6-4, but Putnam shut the door the rest of the way and the Mounties secured the sweep.

Erin McCarthy drove in a pair of runs to lead the offense, but landed the loss in the circle, allowing three runs in relief.

NEXT UP
The Mounties travel to Bowie, Md. on Sunday, March 5 for a noon non-conference doubleheader against Bowie State University.