NA Outslugs Norwin, 6-5
Senior Julia Drazga‘s walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the seventh propelled North Allegheny to a 6-5 victory over the Norwin Knights in Section 1-6A action. In a topsy-turvy game on a rainy night that featured two ties and four lead changes, the Tigers pulled ahead for good thanks to the Drazga’s base hit and fourth RBI of the young season.
Norwin scored the game’s first run in the top of the first inning on a sacrifice fly by senior Josey Michalski. The 1-0 lead was short-lived, however, as NA answered back immediately. After slugging a pair of home runs in a blowout win over Pine-Richland on Tuesday, junior Sammy Plotsko continued her torrid hitting with a two-run blast into the left field bleacher seats for a 2-1 lead.
In the top of the second, Norwin tied the game on a RBI single by Kendall Dudley and grabbed a 3-2 lead in the top of the third inning courtesy of an RBI double by Michalski. The Knights increased their advantage to 4-2 in the fifth inning when senior Bailey Snowberger raced home on a wild pitch.
Norwin starting pitcher Brookelyn Kotch had faired well against NA in the first four innings but ran into trouble in the bottom of the fifth. Back-to-back walks by Sammy Plotsko and Caitlin Logan put two aboard for the Tigers, but after a flyout for the inning’s second out, it appeared that Kotch might sneak out of the inning without any damage. However, senior Carlyn Vaupel launched a three-homer to straightaway centerfield to leapfrog NA in front, 5-4. Vaupel, a Gannon University commit, finished 3-for-3 with a walk and added a dazzling catch in centerfield in the the sixth inning to earn Wright Automotive Player of the Game honors.
Despite NA’s sudden jolt by Vaupel, Norwin again evened the score at 5-5 in the top of the seventh on an RBI single by Michalski. A catalyst for the Norwin lineup, Michalski went 2-for-2 with a single, a double, a walk, a sacrifice fly and three RBI’s.
Norwin’s game-tying effort in the top of the seventh only delayed the inevitable. North Allegheny ultimately won the contest in walk-off fashion when Drazga’s clutch base hit with two outs in the bottom of the seventh scored Leah Carlson from third base and the Tigers prevailed, 6-5.
Sammy Plotsko was the winning pitcher for NA, tossing a complete game with eight strikeouts and six walks in less than ideal conditions. She also went 3-for-3 at the plate, including the two-run homer in the first inning. Reliever Abbie Telli suffered the loss, going 1.2 inning and allowed one run. Kotch worked five innings in the circle and allowed five runs, four earned, with three strikeouts and four walks.
With the win, North Allegheny improves to 2-1 overall and in section play. Norwin falls to 3-4 overall and 2-3 in the section. The Tigers will look to continue their winning ways on Saturday with a home matchup against Canon-McMillan at 2:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast live by the North Allegheny Sports Network.
Line Score - Softball vs. Norwin - 04/11/2024
| Score by Innings | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwin | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 2 |
| North Allegheny | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 0 |