CLAYSBURG, PA – Hilbert College Softball went on the road this afternoon for an Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference doubleheader against the Penn State Altoona Lions. The Hawks fell to 6-8 in the AMCC after dropping both games to the now second place Lions.
 
Both teams scored their first run of the game in the fourth, sending the game into the seventh tied at one. Hilbert looked to take control of the game with two runs in the top of the seventh, but Altoona's walk-off three-run home run gave the hosts the 4-3 game one victory.
 
Hilbert scored the first four runs of game two, but nine straight runs from Penn State Altoona led to a 9-4 game two win and the doubleheader sweep for the Lions.

Game 1:

Both offenses were quiet to start game one, as the zeroes remained on the scoreboards until the fourth inning. Hilbert starter Kailey Stolowski allowed just two hits in the first three innings to keep the Lions off the board and allow her team to score the game's opening run.
 
The Hawks opened the scoring in the top of the fourth when Samantha Heppel came around to score on an error by Altoona to make it a 1-0 game. The lead would not last long as the Lions answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at one.
 
After two more scoreless frames, the bats came alive in the seventh inning. Kaitlin Stolowski's two RBI double scored Makenna Smith and Kailey Stolowski to give the Hawks a 3-1 lead, the largest lead of the game.
 
However, after two quick outs, the Lions got a single and walk, and then a three-run home run to give them their first lead of the game and the game one victory.

BY THE NUMBERS:

• Kaitlin Stolowski led the offense of the Hawks with two of the team's six hits, and the only two RBIs for Hilbert.
• Kailey Stolowski pitched the whole game for the Hawks, throwing seven innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out three batters.

 
Game 2:

After a scoreless first inning, the Hawks opened the scoring in the top of the second with a pair of runs. Emma Gionta's two RBI double scored Samantha Heppel and Alana Yadov for a 2-0 Hilbert lead.
 
The Hawks would double the lead after Emily Lacki scored on a wild pitch, and Victoria Hanley singled to score Heppel for a two-run top of the third to make it 4-0.
 
Altoona quickly erased the lead of the Hawks with a four-run performance in the bottom of the third inning to know the game up at four all.
 
With the Hawks staying put at four runs for the remainder of the game, one run in the fourth, and two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings provided the Lions with a 9-4 lead, which is how the game would end.

BY THE NUMBERS:

• Six different Hawks recorded hits in the contest, with Gionta and Hanley's hits driving in runs for Hilbert.
• Alana Yadov and Kimberly Bentley split the game in the circle, combining to strike out six Lions.

 
Up Next:

The Hawks head into their final week of AMCC regular season play with a pair of home doubleheaders with huge playoff implications. First for Hilbert, is a 3 pm two-game set with Pitt Bradford on Tuesday, April 30^th at FSSJ Field.