Patchogue, N.Y. – The Mount Saint Mary College Softball team traveled to St. Joseph's-L.I. on Friday and came away with an important doubleheader sweep over the Golden Eagles. Following 5-1 and 7-6 victories, the Knights hold the final spot in the Skyline Conference Championship standings heading into the final league game of the year on Sunday.
 
Game 1: Mount Saint Mary 5 – St. Joseph's-L.I. 1
The Knights did all of their scoring in the opener in the first two innings, plating three runs in the first and the final two of the game in the second. Bridget Morris (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) made it stand up with her ninth win of the season.
 
Mount Saint Mary opened the scoring in the first inning, taking advantage of four hits and an error. Alicia Killeen (Nesconset, N.Y.) scored the game's first run following a throwing error before Bendig blasted her team leading third home run of the season to push the Mount in front 3-0.
 
The Knights expanded their lead to 5-0 in the second frame on the strength of three more hits. Melanie McClinchey (Medford, N.Y.) and Killeen started the second with a walk and a single before Bendig doubled home McClinchey with the team's fourth run. Lauren Farina (Niskayuna, N.Y.) chased Bendig home with a single to close out the Mount's scoring in the game.
 
Mount Saint Mary outhit St. Joseph's 10-4 in the game with the first four hitters in the lineup all posting two safeties. Killeen and Laura Dentato (Farmingdale, N.Y.) each finished 2-for-4 with a run with Bendig finishing up 2-for-4  with a double, home run, two runs and three RBI. Farina wrapped up the win 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Knights.
 
Morris won her ninth ball game of the season with a strong effort in the circle in game one. She surrendered just four hits, all singles, and allowed just one run while fanning seven Golden Eagles.
 
Game 2: Mount Saint Mary 7 – St. Joseph's-L.I. 6
Mount Saint Mary opened a seven-run lead in game two, but was forced to hang on after seeing St. Joseph's score a run in the fourth, four in the fifth and one more in the sixth. The Golden Eagles had the tying run at third in the sixth and on base in the seventh, but Morris struck out the final two batters to end the threat.
 
Following a scoreless first inning, the Knights got on the board in the second when Dentato plated McClinchey with a one-out single. The Knights had the bases loaded with two outs, but were unable to expand the lead.
 
The Knights broke open a seven-run lead with six tallies in the top of the third. With one runner on and two outs in the inning, the Mount saw seven straight batter reach. Killeen drove home two runs with a single in the inning with Morgan O'Neill (Little Falls, N.J.) driving in three-runs with a single to left center field. Bendig also added a bases loaded walk to drive in a run in the inning.
 
St. Joseph's got a run back in the home half of the fourth, before slicing the deficit to 7-5 in the fifth. The Golden Eagles took advantage of three hits and a pair of Mount Saint Mary errors to climb to within two runs. In the sixth, Lauren Crawford drove in a run with a run with a single and the Golden Eagles had the tying run at third but were unable to push it across.
 
Killeen picked up two more hits in game two, going 2-for-3 with a run and two RBI with Olivia Ferara (Middletown, N.Y.) wrapping up the win 2-for-4 with a run scored. O'Neill drove in two runs and Dentato posted her team leading 31^st RBI.
 
Morris collected her 10^th win of the season after working 5.0 innings, allowing one earned run on five hits while striking out six.
 
Friday's sweep pushes Mount Saint Mary to 15-9 overall on the season and to 12-7 in Skyline Conference play. The Knights and Golden Eagles will close out the regular season on Sunday with a twinbill scheduled to start at 11:00 a.m.