DOYLESTOWN (Pa.) – The Delaware Valley University softball team played a complete game behind starting pitcher Olivia Monismith to earn its first win of the new 2022 campaign, 6-2, over University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg.

The Aggies moved to 1-2 overall while the Bobcats fell to 0-1.

In her second start of the year, Monismith struck out eight batters and did not allow a hit through three innings and the offenses supported with three runs on four hits and two Pitt errors. In the top of the first, senior Caitlyn Pollock got things started with a single and fellow senior Adina Brucie moved her over to second with a sacrifice bunt. Bailey Smith followed with a ground ball to shortstop that was misplayed and allowed Pollock to score to put the Aggies on the board, 1-0, after one.

In the second, first-year Emily Merrigan led off with a single up the middle and fellow rookie Yasmin Gonzalez advanced her with a sacrifice bunt. Another pair of rookies followed as Carly Mahal beat out an infield single and leadoff hitter Sierra Ripka roped a triple to the gap in right center for two RBI and a 3-0 DelVal lead.

Merrigan led off again in the top of the fourth and again got a board with a single through the left side to spark a rally. After an Alyssa Gerdy single to right, Mahal advanced both runners with a nice sac. bunt. Ripka came up next and hit a ball to second base that was misplayed and allowed two runs to score to extend the Aggie lead to 5-0 after four.

The Bearcats got their first hit of the game in the fourth inning when Ashley Noel sent a hard-hit single into center field. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second, and an RBI single by Laila Smith got the "home team" on the board. Monismith got the next batter to line out back to the mound, and she doubled off Smith at first base to end the inning.

Pitt brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the fifth after a pair of walks and a hit batter, but with two outs, Monismith got Noel to fly out to Ripka in center field to keep it a 5-1 game after five.

In the sixth, Merrigan led off an inning for the third time and delivered again as she roped a single past the pitcher and into center field. Two batter later, Gerdy worked a walk, Mahal followed with a single, and Ripka picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice as Merrigan scored for the third time to make it 6-1.

The Aggies retired the Bearcats in order in the sixth to keep it a five-run game going into the seventh. Pitt had runners at first and third with one out to go in the game and Monismith got Noel to foul out to Bailey Smith at first base to end the game.

Monismith allowed two earned runs on four hits, five walks, and two hit batters and recorded eight strikeouts – one off a career-high mark. Merrigan went 3-for-4 at the dish with three runs scored and Mahal was 2-for-2 with a run scored out of the nine-hole. Gerdy and Pollock each had a hit and a run scored and Ripka had three RBI on her triple.

Four different players recorded a hit for the Bearcats while Smith struck out four in the circle and allowed three earned runs on eight hits and one walk.

After an off-day, the Aggies will look to make it two in-a-row as they start their day with Penn State Altoona at 1:45 p.m. followed by Bluffton University at 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday