(Bronx, NY) - Welcome to college softball, Meagan Gonzalez (Fishers, IN/Hamilton South Eastern HS) ... and if the first two games of your softball career are a sign of things to come, Mount Saint Vincent may have seen the beginning of something special. Gonzalez, a pitcher with a vast arsenal who came to the Mount all the way from Fishers, Indiana pitched both ends of season-opening doubleheader with Lehman College on Tuesday afternoon, and to say that she shined is an understatement. The rookie opened the season with seven innings on the mound, allowing one earned run and striking out six while walking only one as Mount Saint Vincent scored a 2-1 victory over the Lightning. During the nightcap, Gonzalez allowed an earned run during the first inning, but held Lehman scoreless the rest of the way, but Mount Saint Vincent lost 1-0 and are 1-1 entering conference play as the Mount opens Hudson Valley Women's Athletic Conference (HVWAC) competition on Thursday.

Gonzalez, who now has a 1.38 ERA after her first two starts, was not only terrific on the mound, but she also scored a clutch hit in the opening game that put the Dolphins in the lead for good. In the top of the fifth inning, seniors Katie Cusmiani (Belle Harbor, NY/Archbishop Molloy) and Gina Angolillo (West Harrison, NY/Harrison HS), reached base and advanced to scoring position thanks to a Lehman error. With one out, Gonzalez lined a single to left field that scored both Cusmiani and Angolillo, and put the Mount ahead 2-0. Lehman would cut the lead in half during the bottom of the sixth inning, but thanks to Gonzalez the game would get no closer as the rookie was brilliant while earning her first win. The story of the game was also the Mount Saint Vincent defense as the Dolphins - who averaged two errors per game a year ago - made only one error.

The nightcap was very similar to the opening game as Gonzalez was outstanding once again, but so was Lehman pitcher Melinda Moran. A bitter pitcher's duel ensued after Lehman jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as neither team scored a run the rest of the way. Gonzalez allowed the lone earned run on 10 hits and struck out six while walking only three. Moran was dominant, allowing only a Jessica Piccoli (Yonkers, NY/Saunders HS) single in the fourth inning while striking out three. Mount Saint Vincent once again committed only a single error.

Mount Saint Vincent returns to action on Thursday, March 29 when they travel to Medgar Evers for an HVWAC twinbill, beginning at 4:00 p.m.