Check out the recaps for SOL softball teams in action Thursday.
SOL Liberty Division
ABINGTON 5, UPPER DUBLIN 4
The Ghosts trailed by one heading into the bottom of the seventh inning when they plated a pair of two-out runs without collecting a hit to earn the walk-off win.
“Our team was resilient against a very good pitcher for Upper Dublin,” Abington coach Bob Baginski said. “We were glad to get the win within the division but have some more work to do to prepare for the rest of the season.”
Hailey Hernandez drew a leadoff walk in the top of the seventh and – after UD hurler Chloe Foster struck out a pair – scored the tying run on a wild pitch. Aneesa Rohrer, who reached base on an error, stole second and third and scored the game-winner on a wild pitch.
Earlier, UD put a pair of runs on the scoreboard in the first inning. Bella Fiore delivered an RBI single and Brianna Kesslick roped an RBI triple to right field. The Ghosts evened the score with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first, again without collecting a hit.
Abington added a run in the bottom of the third when Ashley Reilly, who walked, scored on a wild pitch to put the Ghosts on top 3-2.
Upper Dublin took a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth when Kaelin Penna lined a two-run double to left field, but the Ghosts erased that lead in the bottom of the seventh.
Freshman Sam Wenhold earned the win in the circle for the Ghosts.
“Our pitcher did a great job battling today to keep us in the game,” Baginski said. “Our defense showed improvement from our first game with some solid plays from Leanna Schenk, Ella O’Rourke, Shauna Rakus and others.”
Foster pitched well enough to win on most days, allowing one hit and five runs – all unearned, fanning 15 and walking six.
Kesslick was 2-for-4 with an RBI triple to lead UD’s seven-hit attack. Katelyn Gamburg was 2-for-3.
“A defensive shoutout goes to Anna Levin, who stepped up to catch for Upper Dublin, having never caught in a high school varsity game before today, to fill in for a late pre-game scratch from the lineup,” UD coach Heather Boyer said.
Abington (2-0, 1-0 SOL) will travel to Wissahickon Tuesday, and Upper Dublin (1-2, 1-1) will be on the road at Quakertown on Tuesday.
Upper Dublin 200 002 0 4-7-0
Abington 201 000 2 5-2-0
Non-league
SOUDERTON 5, UPPER PERKIOMEN 2
Abby Burns did it all in Thursday’s’ non-league win.
The Indians’ senior pitcher not only earned the win with some nifty relief pitching, she also delivered a two-run single to cap a three-run uprising in the top of the seventh that broke a 2-2 tie.
“Abby did a great job, coming in with the bases loaded and ending the inning with runners on,” Souderton coach Carol Atkinson said. “Abby has been hitting really well so far. She’s very calm and relaxed in both hitting and pitching.”
Kendell Clemmer led off the top of the seventh with a single, and she moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brooke Scotti. Leadoff batter Megan Kummery drew a walk, and it looked as though the Tribe might escape unscathed when the next batter was retired on a fly ball to right field, but Riley York delivered a clutch two-out single to left that plated Clemmer with a run that turned out to be the game-winner. Lily Ponce followed with a single, setting the stage for the two-run single by Burns.
A one-two-three seventh by Burns included a pair of strikeouts. The senior pitcher entered the game with the bases loaded and none out in the bottom of the sixth. She struck out the first three batters she faced with a single run crossing the plate on a passed ball with two outs to knot the score 2-2.
The Indians pounded out 11 hits. Sophomore McKenna Schroding was 2-for-3 with a two-run triple in the top of the first that gave the Indians an early 2-0 lead. Kayley York was 2-for-4 with a run scored while Kendell Clemmer was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Schroding got the start and threw five innings, scattering six hits and allowing two runs (one earned) while striking out five and walking three.
Souderton (3-0) will host Central Bucks South in the SOL opener for both squads on Friday.
Souderton 200 000 3 5-11-1
Upper Perk 100 001 0 2-8-2
LOWER MORELAND 8, MaST CHARTER 4
The Lions improved to 3-0 on the young season, scoring five runs in the first inning on their way to an 8-4 win. Junior Isabella Ricciardi knocked in the first two runs, senior Hannah Klanderman doubled to bring in the next two, and the final run of the inning crossed the plate on another double by junior Natalie Shiloni.
The Lions added another run in the second inning when senior Jess Dugo laid down a bunt, stole second and third base, and then scored on a fielder’s choice. The final two runs came in the sixth inning when Ricciardi tripled to right center field, and junior Clare O’Donnell walked. Ricciardi then scored on a fielder’s choice, and junior Payton Lennon singled up the middle to bring O’Donnell across the plate.
MaST scored one run in the second inning on a solo homerun and added another run in the sixth. Two singles, a hit batter, and two walks in the seventh inning scored two more for MaST for a final score of 8-4.
Dugo (3-4, 2 runs), Ricciardi (1-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI’s, 3B), Klanderman (1-3, 1 run, 3 RBI’s, 2B), and Shiloni (2-4, 1 RBI, 2 2B’s) led the offense for Lower Moreland. Junior Liz Neeld notched the win in the circle with 15 strikeouts and five walks.
Lower Moreland (3-0) will travel to Upper Moreland on Friday for its SOL opener.
Mast Charter 010 001 2 4-6-3
Lower Moreland 510 002 x 8-8-2
CENTRAL BUCKS EAST 11, NAZARETH ACADEMY 1 (5 innings)
The Patriots erupted for nine runs in the third inning to blow open a close game on their way to the mercy rule win.
East took a 1-0 lead into the third inning. A solo home run to center field by Sara Camposano to lead off the frame ignited the Patriots. Elizabeth Gray followed and drew a walk, and then Maggie Funston singled to center. Gray scored on the throw to second, and Funston scored when Elise Waddington lofted a sacrifice fly to left field.
Amelia Funston doubled to left field, and back-to-back Nazareth errors allowed another run to cross the plate. It looked as though Nazareth might see its way out of the inning when the next batter was retired on a groundout for the second out.
The inning turned out to be far from over. After a walk to Chloe Urankar, Camposano singled to clear the bases with the third run crossing the plate on the throw to second. Gray lined an RBI double to left, and she scored on a Nazareth miscue, giving the Patriots a commanding 10-1 lead.
The Patriots brought an early end to the game in the fifth when – after a leadoff walk and Camposano double – Gray singled to left to give East its final margin of victory.
Camposano was an impossible out, leading the Patriots’ 11-hit attack with a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate that included a double, home run, four RBIs and two runs scored. Gray had a big game out of the leadoff spot, finishing 2-for-2 with a double, three runs scored and two RBIs. Amelia Funston was 2-for-3 with a double.
Kayla Mitchell got the start in the circle and threw four innings, allowing three hits and one run while striking out four and walking one. Waddington threw a one-two-three fifth, striking out all three batters she faced.
Central Bucks East (2-0) will travel to Pennridge for Friday’s SOL opener at Druckenmiller Park at 6:30 p.m.
Nazareth Academy 000 10 1-3-4
Central Bucks East 109 01 11-8-1
BRISTOL 10, UPPER MORELAND 6
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