CRESSON, Pa. — Hilbert College Softball continued AMCC play on Sunday afternoon with a road doubleheader at Mounts Aloysius. The Hawks fell in a high-scoring tightly contested opener, 17–16, before falling 4–0 in the nightcap despite a strong pitching effort.
Game One: Mount Aloysius 17 – Hilbert 16
The opener developed into a back‑and‑forth offensive battle that featured 33 combined runs and 42 total hits. Mt. Aloysius jumped out early with three runs in the first inning and added two more in the second to take an early lead. Hilbert answered in the second when Madison Esmond delivered an RBI single, followed by a two‑run single from Grace Schwarzkopf in the third that brought the Hawks within two.
Mount Aloysius responded with a massive 10‑run third inning to briefly create separation, but Hilbert responded with its own explosive rally. The Hawks erupted for 12 runs in the fourth, sending 18 batters to the plate. Kaitlin Stolowski, Sadie Plotkin, Emma Gionta, Shelby Schimek, Grace Schwarzkopf, Ava Higgins, and Vanessa Koenig all delivered RBI hits during the frame as Hilbert surged ahead knotted the game at 15 all.
After Mount Aloysius scored once in the bottom of the fourth to regain the lead, Hilbert added a tying run in the fifth to keep the game even at 16. The Mounties ultimately pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to escape with the one‑run victory.
Schwarzkopf paced the Hawks with a 3‑for‑4 performance and four RBI, while Higgins went 4‑for‑5 with a run batted in. Plotkin, Gionta, and Esmond each recorded multiple hits as Hilbert finished with 20 hits in the contest.
Game Two: Mount Aloysius 4 – Hilbert 0
The nightcap featured a much different pace, turning into a pitcher's duel through the early innings. Mt. Aloysius broke through first with a run in the bottom of the first and added single runs in the third and fourth to build a 3–0 advantage. Hilbert threatened multiple times, including runners in scoring position in the third, fifth, and sixth innings, but was unable to capitalize.
Mount Aloysius added an insurance run in the sixth to extend the lead to four. Hilbert collected five hits in the game, highlighted by singles from Shelby Schimek (two), Vanessa Koenig, and Madison Esmond, along with a double from Higgins.
In the circle, Kailey Stolowski provided a strong relief appearance after entering in the second inning, allowing just two earned runs while striking out four over five frames.
HILBERT HIGHLIGHTS
Schwarzkopf led Hilbert offensively across the doubleheader with five hits and four RBI, while Higgins totaled five hits and a double on the day. Gionta and Plotkin each finished with three hits in the opener as the Hawks combined for 25 hits across the two games.
UP NEXT
The Hawks are back on the road on Tuesday as the team travels to Alfred State for a doubleheader beginning at 3 pm.
