Baseball News

Every starter in the North Allegheny lineup either scored a run or drove in a run in a 12-0 blowout of Butler in five innings on Thursday afternoon in Section 1-6A action. Playing at historic Pullman Park, a facility that once was home to a farm team for the New York Yankees, among other teams, it was NA’s version of “Murderer’s Row” that broke open the game with a seven-run third inning enroute to the run-rule victory. The triumph was North Allegheny’s eighth in a row in the head-to-head series with Butler.

Facing Butler’s Madden Clement, one of the top junior southpaws in the WPIAL, the Tigers struck for the game’s first three runs in the top of second inning. Junior Ian Zahorchak brought home the first run with a sacrifice fly, scoring Liam Woodworth from third base for a 1-0 lead. Later in the inning with runners at the corners, the NA running game produced a run with a double steal as senior Erik Sundgren raced across the pay station for a 2-0 advantage. Junior David Posey added an RBI single for a 3-0 lead.

North Allegheny broke the game wide open and chased Clement in the third with a seven-run inning. Senior Aaron Posey drilled a two-run double to increase the NA lead to 5-0. Sundgren followed with an RBI single and scored on a Butler error later in the inning for a 7-0 lead. With two runners aboard, Butler reliever Mac Schnur entered the game and was greeted unkindly by senior Cole Young. The Duke University commit, and projected first-round MLB draft pick, belted a majestic three-run homer over the right-field fence for a 10-0 lead. It was the first home run of the season for Young, who finished 2-for-4 on the day.

In the top of the fourth inning, Sundgren put the finishing touches on the victory with a two-run inside-the-park home run to bring the score to its eventual final, 12-0. Sundgren earned Wright Automotive Player of the Game honors with a 2-for-2 performance with three RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases.

Senior Andrew Hart got the starting nod and the victory on the bump and limited the Golden Tornado to just one hit in four innings with three walks and five strikeouts. Junior Spencer Barnett pitched a scoreless bottom of the fifth to cap the win. In the two games with Butler combined, North Allegheny pitchers allowed no runs and only five hits to the Golden Tornado.

Clement suffered the loss for Butler, allowing nine runs in 2.2 innings. Schnur permitted three runs in 2.1 innings.

North Allegheny improves to 8-4 overall and 6-2 in Section 1-6A, while Butler slips to 8-4 overall and 4-4 in section play. The Tigers will host Hampton on Friday night in a non-section contest. The game will be broadcast live on the North Allegheny Sports Network.

Line Score - Baseball vs. Butler - 04/28/2022

Score by Innings	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
North Allegheny	0	3	7	2	0	X	X	12	11	0
Butler	0	0	0	0	0	X	X	0	2	3

WP - Andrew Hart (1-1) LP - Madden Clement