NEWBURGH, NY – Senior pitcher Erin Lappe (Goshen, N.Y.) struck out twelve and allowed just four hits to lead the Mount Saint Mary College softball team to a 9-0 victory in the opening game of a Saturday Skyline double-header with Purchase College. The Panthers responded to take the second game, 9-5.

Lappe worked her way out of trouble on several occasions, consistently coming up with a big pitch. The senior worked out of a bases loaded jam in the first inning, a first-and-third situation in the third inning, and a first-and-second with no outs in the sixth.

Junior Christine DelPiano (Orange, Conn.) provided the first runs of the game, ripping a two-run double in the first inning. Freshman Destiny Scott (New Paltz, N.Y.) recorded an RBI triple in the second inning and then scored later in the inning on a single by sophomore Sarah Johnson (Montgomery, N.Y.).

For Johnson, it was just the beginning of a big game. She finished 4-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. The sophomore had two doubles and two singles. Scott finished game one 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs.

In game two, Mount Saint Mary led 4-2 headed to the bottom of the sixth inning. A solo home run by DelPiano in the sixth inning extended the advantage to two runs.

Then, with two outs in the sixth inning, the Purchase bats came alive. After six consecutive hits and a walk, the seventh hit of the inning went for a two-run double that gave the Panthers a 9-4 lead.

Mount Saint Mary scratched out a run in the top of the seventh but went fairly quietly after a leadoff double. Scott finished 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Johnson was 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs.

Up next for the Mount is a Skyline Conference double-header with the College of Mount Saint Vincent. The games are scheduled for an 11:00 a.m. start in Newburgh.