Springfield Twp & Lower Moreland were winners in SOL softball action Wednesday. Check the recaps.
Non-league
SPRINGFIELD TWP 16, NAZARETH ACADEMY 11
Ashley Schulz was on a bona fide tear, finishing the day 4-for-4 with a pair of triples and six RBIs to lead the Spartans to the non-league win. Natalie Hartman also had a four-hit game while Nora Manchester had three hits in a contest that saw the Spartans collect 18 hits.
This win did not come easily.
The Spartans fell behind 4-0 early and rallied to take an 8-6 lead only to see Nazareth plate five runs in the top of the fifth to go back on top 11-8. The Spartans rallied to knot the score in the bottom of the inning, held the Pandas off the scoreboard in the top of the sixth and won it with five runs in the bottom of the inning.
By the numbers: Ashley Schulz (4-for-4, 2 3B, 6RBI, 3R), Nora Manchester (3-for-3, 2RBI, 4R), Natalie Hartman (4-for-5, 1RBI 1B), McKayla McKeever (2-for-4, 3R), Joce Davis (2-for-5, 2B, 4RBI, 1R), Keira Brandon (2-for-4, 3R)
Key inning: Bottom of sixth: The Spartans broke an 11-11 tie with a five-run outburst. Davis led off the inning with a single, and one out later, Brandon was safe on an error. With two outs, McKeever drew a walk to load the bases. Manchester grounded a single to right that plated the go-ahead run. Schulz drew a bases-loaded walk to push a second run across, and an error on Juju Cooney’s pop fly allowed three runs to cross the plate, giving the Spartans a 16-11 lead.
Bottom of the fifth: Trailing 11-8, the Spartans scored three runs to even the score. Singles by Brandon, McKeever and Manchester (a bunt single) loaded the bases with one out for Schulz, who delivered in a big way – smashing a bases-clearing triple to center field that evened the score 11.11.
Springfield Twp coach Heather Gelhaus: “I am extremely proud of our girls who fought hard the entire game and never gave up. It was an all-around team effort. Multiple players on our lineup had multiple hits. We battled back a few times after being behind.
–Props: “Ashley Schulz, Joce Davis and Natalie Hartman came up clutch at the plate multiple times. Ashley had two huge triples with six RBIs in some tough situations. She really did a fantastic job at the plate.
“Freshman Nora Manchester was a key contributor offensively and defensively for our team. She played a great game and was a big part of our success. Our pitchers worked hard and fought until the end. Julia started for us and got us through four innings and then Rylee came in to finish the game for us. The two of them did a good job to allow their team to have a chance to win.”
Up next: Springfield Twp (4-8, 2-3 SOL) will be on the road at Abington on Monday.
Nazareth Academy 022 250 0 11-16-2
Springfield Twp 003 535 x 16-18-4
LOWER MORELAND 2, CALVARY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 0
Maddie Menchhofer was all but untouchable in Wednesday’s non-league game, allowing just one hit while walking none and striking out 16.
The Lions managed just five hits of their own but was able to put two runs on the board in the top of the first. That was more than enough for Menchhofer.
By the numbers: Maddie Menchhofer (W) (7.0 IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 16K)
Molly Weber (1-for-3, 3B, 1RBI, 1R), Alexis MacPhee (1-for-3, 1RBI)
Key inning: Top of the first: With two outs and nobody on, Jordyn MacPhee was safe on a dropped third strike. Weber followed with a triple to right field that plated MacPhee, and Weber scored when Alexis MacPhee followed with a single, spotting the Lions a 2-0 lead that held until the final out.
Up next: Lower Moreland (3-6, 0-4 SOL) will be on the road at Cheltenham on Monday.
Lower Moreland 200 000 0 2-5-1
Calvary Christian 000 000 0 0-1-1
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