(ALTOONA, PA:)  Mount Aloysius pitcher Jess Walters threw a combined 16 innings and picked up two victories Wednesday, leading the visiting Mounties to a doubleheader sweep of Penn State Altoona at the Ivyside Field.  Mount held off the Lions 4-2 in the opener, then rallied late and eventually won game two 3-1 in nine innings.

Walters scattered seven hits and allowed only two earned runs en route to the opening game victory.  Offensively, Aloysius banged out 10 hits and scored three runs in the fifth off Lion reliever Chelsey Rhodes (Williamsburg, PA/Williamsburg) to stake a 4-0 lead.  Stacey Hammond had the key hit in the frame, delivering a two-RBI single, and teammate April Trexel also stroked a run-scoring single. 

Altoona responded with two runs on four hits in the sixth including an Aisha Kassam (Lititz, PA/Warwick) two-run, two-out base hit that scored Kara Myers (Millheim, PA/Penns Valley) and Nicolette Stimely (Lewistown, PA/Lewistown).  But Altoona would strand seven runners on base, leaving the sacks packed in the third inning.

Lion pitcher Emily Cummins (Spring Mills, PA/Penns Valley) hurled the first four innings, surrendering five hits and only one earned run.  Mount pounded out 10 hits in the game and left 10 runners stranded.

Cummins and Walters went at it again in game two, and the Lions took a 1-0 lead into the seventh inning.  But with one out, Mount's Brittany Aurand was plunked by a pitch and advanced to second on a groundout.  Center fielder Andie O'Neal then blooped a single just over Lion shortstop Megan Turiano's (Tyrone, PA/Tyrone) head, scoring Aurand and sending the contest to extras. 

Both teams had opportunities to score in the eighth but came up empty.  The Mounties used a bunt single that put runners on first and second before Walters tapped one down the first base line.  Lion first baseman Lindsey Laudermilch (Hershey, PA/Hershey) tried to get the lead runner at third, but an errant throw let everyone to advance an extra base and allowed Ashley Duke to score the go-ahead run.  After a strikeout, O'Neal came up big again, pounding a single up the middle to plate an insurance run and give Mount the 3-1 lead. 

Walters sat the Lions down 1-2-3 in the ninth to claim her second win of the day.  The Hollidaysburg native went all nine innings, giving up eight hits and only one earned run while striking out five.  Cummins was equally good, striking out seven and allowing seven hits despite taking the complete-game loss.

O'Neal went 3-5 in the game for Mount Aloysius while Myers turned in a 3-4 performance for the Lions.

Penn State Altoona dropped to 4-24 overall and 1-13 in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference.  The Mounties upped their record to 17-15 and 8-6 in the AMCC.

The Lions are back home on Thursday for a non-conference twin bill against Juniata.  First pitch is set for 3:00 PM at the Ivyside Field.

CONTACT:        Penn State Altoona Sports Information
                           Steve Crider  --  SID
                           814-949-5173
                           sac310@psu.edu