On a day that saw most games postponed, Bensalem picked up a win in SOL softball action Friday.
SOL National Conference
BENSALEM 16, COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 10
Hits and runs were easy to come by for both squads in Friday’s conference battle, and it was the Owls holding an edge in both categories.
“The bats were hot for the Lady Owls today,” said Bensalem coach Erin Smith, whose team twice came from behind. “It was great for our team to rally together today after being down. We have a new coaching staff and a lot of new players this year and are working on getting to know each other and figure out how everything fits.
This last week we have been stressing two things – picking each other up and being able to build on momentum. I think we did a really good job at being able to do both those things today. You can really see the team coming together.”
The two teams were deadlocked 10-10 heading into the seventh inning when the Owls erupted for six runs in the top of the frame to notch the win. Camryn Pickering led off the inning with a walk followed by an Ayva Knowles single, and Meg Klein reached on an error to load the bases. Maggie Formichelli blasted a bases-clearing double, and the Owls put the game out of reach when Lina Sponheimer smacked a two-run homer to center for a six-run lead.
The Owls closed out the game in the bottom of the inning with a soft liner back to Formichelli. The next batter was hit by a pitch, but the inning – and game – ended on a line drive Kira Hutchinson snagged and turned into a doubleplay.
Megan Klein once again had a big bat for the Lady Owls, finishing the day 4-for-5 with four singles, two stolen bases and three runs scored out of the leadoff spot. Sponheimer, who bats out of the leadoff spot, was also 4-for-5 with three singles and a two-run home run, two stolen bases and two runs scored. Ayva Knowles was 3-for-3 with three singles, a walk and four runs scored. Maggie Formichelli had a double, single and walk, and she scored twice.
After the Lady Owls put three runs on the board in the top of the first, the Indians – ignited by a three-run home run by Molly Sheehy – regained the lead with five runs in the bottom of the inning to go on top 5-3. Bensalem knotted the score with two runs in the third, but the Indians regained the lead with two in the third. It was that kind of game, and it took until the seventh inning to determine a winner.
“Our girls came out today with heart and hustle,” Rock North coach Susan Yee said. “They were loud from start to finish, and I was proud of their positive attitudes. They had good, disciplined approaches at the plate and overall worked collectively to put the ball in play and manufacture runs.
“We had six different girls cross the plate, and five different girls earn RBIs, and that doesn’t include the others who did little things to move runners in order to make those runs happen. If we can continue to play this way offensively but tighten up our defense, I think things will start to look up for our team. I have every confidence in our girls to score runs, we just have to stop shooting ourselves in the foot with things like errors and leadoff walks.
“Give Bensalem credit, they put the ball in play and forced us to make the plays. They took advantage of miscues, and that’s what good teams do to win tight games. This game was an absolute shootout thriller with tons of offense from both sides and constant lead changes. It was exciting, and a real nail biter entering the seventh with the score knotted. The difference absolutely came down to which team played cleaner, and today that was Bensalem.”
For the Indians, Emma Zoldi was 2-for-3 with a double, triple and two runs scored. Sofia Shields was 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored. Sheehy was 2-for-2 with a home run, three RBIs and a run scored. Jayme Bordner had a double, three RBIs and a run scored, and Taylor Gearhart had a double, one RBI (on a sacrifice fly) and two runs scored. Sierra Klein also scored one run.
Smith was grateful to the Rock North grounds crew.
“Kudos to North’s field crew,” Smith said. “I expected it to be messy, but the field was in amazing condition.
Bensalem (3-2, 2-1 SOL) will host Council Rock South on Monday, and Council Rock North (0-3) will host Archbishop Ryan in a non-league game on Saturday.
Bensalem 16-14-1
Council Rock North 10-10-6
Non-league
DOWNINGTOWN WEST 8, HATBORO-HORSHAM 1
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