Big innings propel Tigers past Pine-Richland
by: Bob Orkwis
After weather rearranged and condensed their schedules, Pine-Richland traveled to Wexford to take on North Allegheny after both teams posted losses yesterday. A pair of big innings led the Tigers over the Rams, 12-8, in a Section 1-6A contest.
Pine-Richland took the lead in the top of the first inning. Serafina Julio and Noelle Ionadi each singled, before Abbey Laurent smacked a three-run homerun to center field for a 3-0 lead.
The Rams added a fourth run in the second inning, when Laurent singled home Julio.
The first big inning for North Allegheny came in the bottom of the second, when the Tigers sent nine batters to the plate.
Dani DeGregory led off with a single, and after a fielder’s choice and a foul out, North Allegheny went to work with two outs.
Hayden Roberston was hit by a pitch. Zoe Rychel drove home courtesy runner Braelyn Dawson for the Tigers first run. Blake Hornyak walked before Leah Carlson plated Robertson with an RBI single. With the bases loaded, Erin Fadgen stroked a bases clearing double to left field that put North Allegheny in front 5-4.
Pine-Richland retook the lead in the fourth inning. After two outs, Laurent was walked intentionally. Norah Cherry followed with a single before Sydney Bazila put the Rams up 6-5 with a two-run double.
That score remained until the bottom of the fifth, when North Allegheny sent thirteen batters to the plate.
Carlson led off with a single and Fadgen reached on an error. Sam Hubert loaded the bases with a base hit, before DiGregory tied the game with an RBI single. After a fielder’s choice gave Pine-Richland its first out at home plate, Taylor Condiotte put the Tigers up 8-6 with a single that scored Hubert and DiGregory.
Robertson was again hit by a pitch to load the bases. Rychel drove in a pair with a double, before Hornyak and Carlson both walked, with Carlson getting her second RBI of the game. Fadgen then hit a sacrifice fly to score Hornyak, and when the dust settled, North Allegheny had a 12-6 lead.
The Rams would add a pair of runs in the sixth, when the senior Laurent, a St. Michaels recruit, drove in her fifth run of the game. An unearned run then crossed home, but that was the end of the scoring, and the Tigers had a 12-8 win.
Sophomore Cailyn Wateska picked up the complete game win finishing with four strikeouts.
The win snapped a two-game losing streak for North Allegheny (2-5, 2-4). The loss for Pine-Richland (2-6, 1-5) was the fourth straight for the Rams.
The Wright Automotive Player of the Game went to Erin Fadgen. Fadgen, one of two seniors on the roster for North Allegheny, went 1-for-3, while also reaching on an error and driving in four runs to help the Tigers win.
The condensed schedule continues tomorrow for the Tigers as they are set to host Canon-McMillan in another section matchup. That game is scheduled for a 7:00PM start and will be carried live on the North Allegheny Sports Network.
Softball Summary vs. Pine-Richland, 4-9-26
| Score By Innings | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pine-Richland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 1 |
| North Allegheny | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | X | 12 | 11 | 5 |
LP - Elliana Myers
