POMONA, N.J. – Mount Saint Mary College sophomore Caitlin Maynes (Miller Place, N.Y.) pitched a pair of shutouts in Saturday's ECAC Metro Region Tournament, hosted by Stockton College. The Knights, who defeated Hunter and Stockton, both by a score of 1-0, will need just one win in two chances on Sunday to claim the program's first-ever ECAC title.

In their opening game against Hunter, the Knights finally scratched out a run in the bottom of the sixth inning to break up a scoreless tie. Freshman Ashley Peel (Shelton, Conn.) led off the inning with a single to left field and then moved to second when freshman Chelsea Hepburn (New York, N.Y.) drew a walk. Both runners advanced on a sacrifice from freshman Amanda Barrese (Staten Island, N.Y.) and then sophomore Victoria DeMarco (Hicksville, N.Y.) walked to load the bases. The next batter, freshman Nicole Petkevicius (Long Beach, N.Y.) also worked a walk, forcing home Peel with the eventual game-winning run.

Maynes worked around a Hunter leadoff triple in the top of the seventh, inducing a flyout, a groundout, and then a lineout to end the game. The sophomore earned the shutout, stranding Hunter runners on third base in four of the seven innings. Maynes allowed just five hits and struck out two to claim the victory.

Peel's leadoff single was just one of two hits in the game for the Knights. Freshman Brittany O'Brien (Brooklyn, N.Y.) had the team's only other hit, a bunt single in the fifth frame.

In the winner's bracket final against Stockton College, the game would once again head to the sixth inning with the teams tied at 0-0. Petkevicius led off the bottom of the sixth and went all the way to second base on an error by the first baseman. When junior Danielle Orender (Wall, N.J.) dropped down a bunt, Petkevicius slid under the tag at third to give the Mount runners at first and third. The next batter, junior Lacey Kehlenbeck (Port Jervis, N.Y.) grounded a pitch to shortstop and Petkevicius broke for home. Again, she slid under the tag to provide the game's only run.

Maynes was stellar once again, this time striking out five while allowing just five hits. She struck out the first two batters in the top of the seventh, and after a Stockton infield single, a flyball to right field served as the final out.

Maynes was also responsible for the Mount's only hit, a single to center field in the first inning.

Mount Saint Mary will await the winner of tomorrow's loser's bracket final between Ramapo College and Stockton College. Without a loss in the double elimination format, the Knights will have two chances to earn a win in the championship series.