NA Clings to Close Victory at Norwin
In their second meeting this season, the North Allegheny Tigers held onto a close game against the Norwin Knights and earned their second 6-5 victory.
Both teams remained scoreless until the top of the third inning when the Tigers put two runs on the board. Junior Sammy Plotsko got on base with a hard-hit fielder’s choice. With two outs, junior McKenna Rowlands doubled, scoring sophomore courtesy runner Hayden Robertson from first base. Next, Rowlands took advantage of a misplayed ball hit by senior Anne Melle, scoring the Tigers’ second run of the inning. The Tigers held the Knights scoreless in the bottom of the inning and entered the fourth with a 2-0 lead.
After a scoreless fourth inning, the Tigers increased their lead in the fifth. Senior Carlyn Vaupel singled on a hard ground ball in the 5-6 hole. Melle doubled to left field, scoring Vaupel. Then senior Julia Drazga hit a fly ball to center field, scoring Melle. Entering the bottom of the fifth, the score was now 4-0 in favor of the Tigers. Norwin fought back, however, earning a single run in the fifth on a walk and a double. They then scored three more in the sixth due to an error, a double, and a ground out. At the start of the seventh inning, the score was now tied 4-4.
The Tigers took advantage of one more offensive opportunity in the top of the seventh. With one out, Vaupel reached first base on an error. A hard-hit ground ball to the outfield by Melle scored Vaupel, making the score 5-4. Drazga reached first on a fielder’s choice. Then, with two outs, sophomore Erin Fadgen singled to left field, scoring Drazga. Before the Knights’ final at-bat, the score was 6-4 in favor of the Tigers.
Norwin led off the inning with a single and a sacrifice bunt that advanced their leadoff batter to third. With one out, Norwin scored, bringing the score to 6-5. However, Vaupel came up with two game-saving catches in center field, catching the first over her head at the fence, and then making a diving catch in right-center to end the game.
Plotsko started in the circle for the Tigers, pitching 5.1 innings. She allowed only four hits and struck out seven. Melle came in for relief, throwing 1.2 innings. She allowed one hit and struck out one.
The Tigers will travel to Butler tomorrow for their next section contest at 4:00 pm.
Line Score - Softball vs. Norwin - 05/01/2024
| Score by Innings | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Allegheny | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 2 |
| Norwin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 3 |