Tigers Top Rams 5-3 To Even Series
by Jared Barton
Bouncing back from Monday night, the North Allegheny baseball team defeated Pine-Richland in comeback fashion, 5-3, at home on Tuesday night.
NA senior David Posey got the start on the mound and struck out four of the first five batters he faced. The Rams’ bats picked up in the bottom of the second inning, as Sam Heckert reached on a double and his courtesy runner came around to score on an RBI single from Tanner Cunningham.
Pine-Richland scored two more runs in the top of the fourth inning. Heckert once again doubled and his courtesy runner came around the bases to score via an RBI on an Anthony Annichine fielder’s choice. Logan Plummer doubled Annichine home later in the inning.
North Allegheny found life offensively in the bottom of the same frame, as the Tigers took advantage of a tiring Tyler Vogel. Posey walked to start the inning, and then NA hit back-to-back singles by junior Auggie Maslo and senior Andrew Dixon. Freshman J.J. Mancuso was walked with the bases loaded scoring Posey. Junior Mason Smith batted in Maslo with a single. Pinch runner junior Sean O’Donnell scored on a wild pitch. Smith scored on a Pine-Richland throwing error, and junior Nico Varlotta drove in senior Matt Parreaguirre on an RBI single.
Varlotta stepped in for three innings of scoreless relief pitching, and earned Wright Automotive Player of the Game honors for his efforts, which included four strikeouts.
North Allegheny improves to 13-4 overall and is now tied with Pine-Richland with a 9-2 record at the top of the section. Thursday’s rubber match in Gibsonia will determine the section champion.
Line Score - Baseball vs. Pine-Richland - 04/30/2024
| Score by Innings | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pine-Richland | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 1 |
| North Allegheny | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | X | 5 | 8 | 2 |