Lindsay strong again as Spring-Ford tops Upper Perk; PV, Pottsgrove pick up wins

ROYERSFORD >> She may only be a freshman, but judging by her performance in the circle, one could never guess.

A week removed from tossing a nine-inning gem, Spring-Ford’s Sam Lindsay was at it again, throwing a four-hit complete game as the

Rams used a three-run sixth inning to put away Upper Perkiomen 7-1 in both team’s PAC-10 opener Wednesday afternoon.

“I wanted to pitch them low and get them to hit groundballs so the team can field them and they did that,” Lindsay said.

It was the second-straight strong performance from the freshman righthander after she allowed one earned while striking out four in last week’s 3-2 victory over Downingtown East.

Wednesday’s PAC-10 tilt saw more of the same as Lindsay retired the side in order in three of the seven innings while striking out five and walking one. Thirteen outs came via groundout as the Indians couldn’t piece anything together offensively, only advancing a runner to third twice.

“We’re making the plays we’re supposed to make,” Spring-Ford head coach Tim Hughes said. “That’s what we talked about before. If we get beat we get beat, but make the plays, stay consistent and the wins will come.”

Megan Kern and Jess Della Guardia led the way for Spring-Ford offensively, both finishing with three hits and an RBI in the win. The Rams pounded out 10 hits against Upper Perkiomen pitcher Lynsey Quinn, who struck out five in six innings in taking the loss.

“It feels good to get the win,” Kern said. “The team has been working really hard this year. We’re just bonding really well so far.”

“You can be thrilled about 10 hits. That’s a pretty darn good pitcher,” Hughes said of Quinn. “That’s a much improved team. I’m sure its going to be a much closer game next time.”

Della Guardia’s bloop single to right gave the Rams a 1-0 lead in the first before Kern’s RBI triple down the right-field line and another Della Guardia single made it 3-0 after three. Upper Perk got one back in the top half of the fifth after a Kourtne Buck single drove in Alyssa Sullivan before the Rams answered with a Files RBI single to left field that plated Della Guardia to make it 4-1 Rams after five.

The sixth is where the Rams separated themselves as Lex Strunk reached on an error before Keira Walton and Sophia Cinti singled to load the bases. Morgan Maziarz worked a five-pitch walk to plate Strunk to make it 5-1 before Walton scored on a wild pitch and a Maggie McConney RBI groundout gave the Rams all the needed cushion to preserve the win.

In other action in the PAC-10: 

Pottsgrove 23, Pottstown 0 >> Kelsey Hochstuhl and Rachel Cherubini finished the day with three hits apiece while Shauna Maggio homered and accounted for four RBI as the Falcons topped the Trojans in three innings.

Cori Dickinson finished with two hits and three runs scored while Jenna Trythall added three RBI and a double. Trythall got the win in the circle, pitching three innings and allowing two hits and striking out four.

Perkiomen Valley 5, Pope John Paul II 2 >> The Vikings’ five-spot in the second proved to be the difference as PV took its conference opener.

Ana Bruni finished 2-for-4 from the plate with a home run and two RBI in the win. Kelsey Impink, Noelle McCullough and Haley Streeper (two RBI) finished with hits for the Vikings with Emily Oltman also recording an RBI.

Alyssa Schwab led Pope John Paul II with two hits in the loss.

Oltman picked up the win in the circle, allowing four hits in a complete game effort while striking out seven.