NA Bounces Baldwin on Senior Night, 8-1
Caitlin Logan drove in five runs and Anne Melle struck out 11 batters in a complete game victory as the North Allegheny softball team rolled to an 8-1 triumph against Baldwin on Wednesday. Logan was 3-for-3, finishing just a triple shy of the cycle, while adding a stolen base and a walk. Melle, meanwhile, limited the Fighting Highlanders to just five hits for her third win of the season. The duo of Logan and Melle earned Wright Automotive Co-Player of the Game honors.
The Tigers wasted little time against the visiting Highlanders in the bottom of the first inning, thanks to a leadoff single by senior Meghan McDonough and a two-run homer by Logan, her third of the season, for a prompt 2-0 lead. McDonough was 3-for-4 on the evening with two runs scored and three stolen bases.
The only run for the Highlanders came in the second inning when Avery Harrington struck for a solo home run to straightaway centerfield, trimming the NA lead to 2-1. The Harrington long ball was the closest that Baldwin would come in the game.
With two outs in the bottom of the second, Katie Lucas and McDonough posted back-to-back singles and Logan made it three straight base hits with an RBI single to score Lucas for a 3-1 lead. Lucas finished with a 2-for-3 night with two singles and two runs scored.
The Tigers added on to the lead and put the game out of reach with a five-run fourth inning. Logan smashed a two-run double to increase the NA advantage to 5-1. Junior Sammy Plotsko belted an RBI double to deep right to make it 6-1, Tigers. Senior Reagan Sheets, who went 2-for-3 with a run scored, added an RBI single for a 7-1 lead. Sophomore McKenna Rowlands capped the scoring with RBI triple to bring the score to its eventual final, 8-1.
Following NA’s big fourth inning, Melle continued to dominate the Highlanders in the pitcher’s circle and didn’t allow another hit the rest of the way.
Wednesday’s game also marked Senior Night at North Allegheny as McDonough, Lucas, Sheets, Sadie Kelly and Mayson Brokos were honored prior to the game.
With the win, North Allegheny improves to 11-4 overall and 8-3 in Section 1-6A. Baldwin remains winless at 0-15 overall and 0-12 in the section. The Tigers will travel to Butler on Thursday to finish a weather-suspended game that began on Monday. The Tigers lead 10-2 in the bottom of the fourth when the contest resumes at 4:00 p.m.
Box Score - Softball vs. Baldwin - 04/26/2023
| Score by Innings | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baldwin | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| North Allegheny | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | X | 8 | 13 | 1 |