Two-run 7th inning lifts Upper Dublin over Plymouth Whitemarsh

WHITEMARSH >> Upper Dublin had plenty of motivation when it traveled to Plymouth Whitemarsh High School Tuesday afternoon.

The Cardinals entered the day No. 7 in the District 1 Class-5A power rankings and — with a tough remaining schedule — needs wins to secure a spot in the 16-team playoff bracket and possibly a top-eight seed for a first-round home game.

They were also facing the undefeated Suburban One League American Conference-leading Colonials, who were celebrating their Senior Day.

It was Upper Dublin, however, that was celebrating when teams lined up for handshakes. The Cardinals scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to break two-all tie and pick up an SOL American win, 4-2, over Plymouth Whitemarsh.

“We wanted to have the advantage,” Cardinals center fielder Taylor Avery said. “Obviously everyone wants to crush the seniors on their Senior Night, so we had that motivation going in. It was a good game.”

Upper Dublin (10-5, 6-5 SOL American) led most of the game. The visitors took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second and doubled it to 2-0 in the top of the fifth.

Plymouth Whitemarsh rallied to tie the game, 2-2, in the bottom of the sixth.

The Cardinals immediately answered.

Avery and Lauren Carboni sandwiched singles around a Gretchen Wolpert walk to load the bases with no outs. Korynn Bishoff singled home Avery to give UD the lead, 3-2. They added an insurance run two batters later when Julia Wolf singled to score Bischoff and make it 4-2.

“Our team works well when we have one batter that starts the team up,” Avery said. “Once one runner gets on, everyone gets excited then everyone starts to get on and that’s the way that our team motivates themselves to get the runs.”

“Resiliency,” UD coach Heather Boyer said of her team’s ability to bounce back after losing a two-run lead. “This is a very good team. Last week was the first week where we’ve actually played full strength with everybody healthy the way we would’ve liked to start the season. They’re starting to click and play good softball at the perfect time.”

The Colonials (12-2, 10-1 SOL American) got the tying run on base in the bottom of the seventh with two outs, but grounded out to end the comeback attempt.

It wasn’t the first time in the game PW stranded runners on base. The Colonials left 13 runners on base in the game — 11 of which were in scoring position.

“It was either a line-out, someone hit the ball hard, but it was at someone,” PW coach Dana Moyer said. “I’m stressing I don’t need (hits) in the air — they have a good outfield, they can catch them in the air, but that’s what we were doing. We didn’t make the correct adjustments to their pitcher. Their pitcher did a nice job today.”

Cardinals pitcher Chloe Foster threw a complete game, allowing two runs — both unearned — on nine hits. The freshman struck out three batters and walked four.

“She’s been our go-to, No. 1 all year,” Boyer said. “She’s got good pop on the ball for a young freshman. She works hard to hit her spots. She misses some occasionally, but that’s going to happen and she’ll get better with experience. She’s really doing well working in her change-up. It’s deceptive because she doesn’t change her motion at all.”

The Cardinals got the scoring started in the top of the second inning. Wolf reached on a one-out double and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. Ellie Kelcy battled back from a 1-2 count, fouling off pitch after pitch, before getting hit. Meghan Muth followed with a walk and Avery hit a two-out single to score Wolf.

In the fifth inning, Carboni doubled with two outs and the bases empty. Bischoff singled and courtesy runner Maya Segal scored when the ball got away from PW’s outfielder to make it 2-0.

The Colonials took advantage of two Upper Dublin errors to score in the bottom of the sixth and tie the game. Sydney Melillo brought home a run when UD’s shortstop couldn’t handle a grounder. She stole second and scored when Jen Byrne’s sacrifice bunt was thrown away to tie the game at two.

PW’s Allison Beausoleil started in the circle and took the loss. In seven innings she allowed four runs on 12 hits. She struck out nine batters to two walks.

The Colonials grip of the SOL American crown loosened with the loss. Hatboro-Horsham and Upper Moreland entered Tuesday with two league losses each. PW has to play H-H one more time this season and Upper Moreland twice.

“We have a tough schedule ahead of us to say the least to end the season,” Moyer said. “It will be a good test to see how we bounce back. We were undefeated in the league until this game. I hand it to (UD coach) Heather (Boyer), her players, who always have a nice squad. It’s always going to be a good game. I know that, but it will be interesting to see the girls and what they have as far as fortitude to push through the rest of the season and get back that winning spirit.”