Tigers sweep Baldwin behind Bornt’s big day
by: Slow-Pitch Softball Contributor
North Allegheny swept through Sunday’s doubleheader against Baldwin with two very different kinds of wins, opening the afternoon with a dominant 17–0 run‑rule victory before grinding out a 10–4 decision in the rematch. The Tigers leaned on strong production from their upper‑class core and steady work in the circle from senior pitcher Viola Laswell, who handled both games.
Game 1
North Allegheny took control immediately, exploding for nine runs in the first inning on the way to a 17–0 win. Sophomore Zoey Bornt set the tone with a three‑hit performance, singling in the first, second, and fourth innings. Sophomore Ava Combs opened the scoring with a run‑scoring single, followed by an RBI groundout from senior outfielder Amara Daugherty and a two‑run single from senior infielder Megan Sweeney. Senior Lily Daugherty added a two‑run triple, and freshman catcher Abby Steiner doubled home two more as NA piled on early.
The Tigers kept rolling in the second, putting up seven more runs on six hits. Laswell helped her own cause with a run‑scoring double, Steiner added another RBI double, junior outfielder Evie Sattler singled home a run, Bornt delivered her second RBI of the day, Combs knocked in two more, and A. Daugherty finished the surge with an RBI double. Laswell worked five shutout innings, allowing six hits with no walks, backed by clean play from the senior infield led by L. Daugherty and senior second baseman Jordan Phillips. NA finished with 18 hits overall, led by three apiece from Bornt, Steiner, and Combs.
Game 2
The second game brought a tighter battle, but North Allegheny broke it open late with a six‑run sixth inning to secure a 10–4 victory. Combs, the sophomore infielder, doubled home a run in the first, and her sacrifice fly in the third put NA ahead 2–1. Baldwin tied the game twice, including in the fourth on a single and an error, but the Tigers kept answering. In the fifth, senior infielder L. Daugherty ripped a triple to right‑center to give NA a 4–3 lead.
The decisive sixth inning belonged entirely to the Tigers. Sweeney, the senior first baseman, singled in two runs, Steiner added an RBI single, freshman Addy Gannon drew a walk to force in a run, and Bornt delivered a two‑run single to push the margin to 10–3. Laswell again went the distance, allowing 12 hits but only four runs, two earned, while striking out three and walking none. NA totaled 12 hits, with Sweeney and Steiner each collecting two. Bornt and Combs drove in two runs apiece, and Phillips worked three walks as the Tigers drew seven overall. The defense turned two double plays, with the senior infield and junior outfield combining to help Laswell navigate traffic.
North Allegheny now looks ahead to a road matchup at Seneca Valley next Sunday, carrying strong momentum from a complete doubleheader performance.
