ATLANTA - For a fifth consecutive season, the Mount Vernon Varsity Softball team is going to Columbus for the GHSA Elite 8.

The Mustangs accomplished that feat with a 2-0 series win over the St. Francis Knights on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at Mustang Park.

In Game 1, the Mustangs rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring three runs to win 8-7.

Mamie Bowen smashed a 1-out double that plated Kirsten Abbott to give the Mustangs the walk-off victory.

MV pulled within one run at 7-6 when Bella Durkee reached earlier in the inning on a Knights infield error to score Taylor D'Auria.

The Mustangs tied the game at 7-7 two batters later when Olivia McDougall laid down a sacrifice bunt to bring in Durkee.

MV led 1-0 after the first two innings of action, but the Knights went ahead 3-1 in the third inning on an Ansley Rabern 3-run home run.

MV scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to go ahead 5-3, but that lead was short-lived as St. Francis netted four runs in the top of the sixth inning.

Mount Vernon out-hit the Knights 12-9 in Game 1.

Mollie Martin picked up the win in the circle for the Mustangs.

The righty tossed 3.1 innings, allowing four runs (all unearned), with four strikeouts and four walks.

In Game 2, the Mustang bats came alive in a big way, propelling MV to a 16-8 win.

MV led 6-3 after the first two innings and outscored St. Francis 10-5 over the final four frames to secure the win and series victory.

Priscilla Andrin was 1-for-3 at the dish with a 3-run home run in the fifth inning.

Durkee drove in two runs while Ella Clockadale, Mia Winokur, Dillan Pajot, Bowen and D'Auria accounted for one RBI each.

Olivia McDougall was the winning pitcher in the circle with four innings pitched.

MV (22-6) will play its first game of the GHSA Elite 8 against Hebron Christian (28-2) on Wednesday, Oct. 29 in Columbus, Ga.

The Lions won their playoff series over Savannah Christian 2-0 to advance to the Elite 8.

First pitch for Wednesday's contest is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Field 8 at the South Commons Complex.

For the complete GHSA Private State Tournament Bracket, Click Here

About The Mount Vernon School
Established in 1972, The Mount Vernon School serves over 1,250 students in preschool through grade 12 on our 40-acre Atlanta campus. As a leading innovative, independent school in the country, Mount Vernon’s brand of innovation, expansion, and growth has emerged over the last decade, impacting schools in the US and across the globe through Mount Vernon Ventures, a research, strategy, and consulting division of the School. In addition, in 2021 the School launched a global online program for grades 9-12 to meet the needs of today’s flexible family. Through established partnerships with Fortune 500 companies, non-profits, and civic environments, our mission is to design a better world...together.