Pennsbury softball subs step up in win over Conwell-Egan
FAIRLESS HILLS – Sometimes, the outcome of the battle doesn’t depend upon who’s out so much as it does who steps up to replace the injured parties.
The visiting Lady Falcons started today’s non-league battle against Conwell-Egan Catholic down three infielders and ended the duel with four among the walking wounded.
No matter.
Pennsbury sophomore Allison Rose, at third base and batting cleanup for the injured Mia Pitt, slapped an RBI double in the initial frame and crushed a solo home run that broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning and provided the winning edge Easter Saturday on the Lady Eagles’ home field.
“It feels good to know that I can make contact with the ball to help out my team,” said Rose. “I just backed up my pitcher; she had a really good game. We just didn’t come out as strong as we would have liked on defense.”
For that matter, neither side played good defense in the first inning.
With one out, back to back errors by Egan put Falcons – outfielder Carleigh Parsons and catcher Arden Rabiger – at the corners. Pennsbury used a double-steal to plate the first run and the double to centerfield by Rose put the Falcons up 2-0.
The Eagles answered right back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. CEC starting pitcher Alyssa Adams helped her own cause, scoring catcher Tori McCoach with a sac-fly and, after a single by third baseman Cory Jones (3-for-3), a single by designated hitter Devyn Savage tied the game at two runs, each.
While Pennsbury got a pair of hits in the top of the second inning including a leadoff double by first baseman Jen Brady and a one-out single by infielder Sierra Daley, the runners were left stranded at the corners when Adams escaped further damage by inducing back-to-back grounders by Sydney Jakimowicz and Parsons.
Adams retired the side in order over the next three innings until, with two strikes leading off the top of the sixth, Rose smoked an offering by Alyssa over the centerfield fence for the winning run.
The Falcons started the affair down three infielders including Pitt, shortstop Bailey Zaccaro and first baseman Anna Downs. Additionally, with one out in the bottom of the fourth and a runner on first, Rabiger was struck by a wild pitch and was forced to exit.
Daley, who started the game at second base, took Arden’s spot behind the plate and Lily Hochkausler took Sierra’s position at second. Daley guided Hileman through some trouble in the sixth, then recorded the final out in the battle, catching a popup by Adams with a runner in scoring position.
“Everyone really showed up and it proved as a team how we can all play together and pick each other up,” said Daley. “It proves that no matter how many people are down, we can still come back and win.”
While Daley caught for the Lower Bucks Lady Lions, she hasn’t played that spot since last summer.
“It was just like riding a bike,” quipped Daley. “Everyone does their job; that’s all we have to do and we’ll come out on top.”
The Eagles’ best chance to answer the home run by Rose came in the bottom of the sixth. Three consecutive singles by Adams, Jones and Savage loaded the sacks with no outs. Hileman escaped any damage at all in the frame however, inducing a shallow fly ball to left field, a popup to short and striking out the last batter swinging.
CEC shortstop Alyssa Fagans led the seventh off by beating out a single to short and reached second base on a sac-bunt by McCoach. Hileman left the runner stranded right there however, retiring the next batter on a called third strike and inducing a popup in front of the plate to end the game.
“It was a typical Conwell-Egan Pennsbury softball game,” said Egan head coach Sandy Hart. “There’s a lot of tradition in this game. Both teams played great, came up with some key hits.
“You could say that we didn’t come up with the key hits but they’re the ones that got out of the jams.
“You don’t want to take anything away from either team.”
Hileman recorded the win, scattering eight hits and no walks while striking out four batters. Adams limited Pennsbury to just five hits though four of them were for extra bases. She also struck out four batters and walked none.
Offensively, Rose led her team to the win, hitting 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI and a run scored. Rose, Brady and designated hitter Karli Haines added doubles for the Falcons.
While the Eagles fall to 3-4 with the loss, the Birds are unbeaten at 3-0 in the Philadelphia Catholic League, after coming off back-to-back extra-inning comeback wins over Archbishop Carroll and Bishop Hallahan.
Trailing the Patriots 2-0 on April 11, Egan won the game 3-2 in the eighth inning on a single by first baseman Emily Wang. The Eagles dug themselves a deeper hole the next day versus the Mickey Mice but came back to win, 8-4.
Adams tied the game in the seventh with a triple and freshman outfielder Elizabeth Shire led off the eighth with a home run. McCoach chipped in with a 4-for-4 batting performance that included two doubles.
Contact Steve Sherman at ssherman@21st-Centurymedia.com or @BucksLocalSport on Twitter
TOP PHOTO: Pennsbury sophomore Allison Rose is all smiles as she trots to third base after leading off the sixth inning with a home run over the centerfield fence that proved to be the difference in Saturday’s duel with neighboring Conwell-Egan Catholic. (Steve Sherman – 21st-Century Media)
Pennsbury 3, Conwell-Egan 2
(April 15 at Conwell-Egan)
PENNSBURY (6-1) 200 001 0 – 3 5 2
CONWELL-EGAN (3-4) 200 000 0 2 8 3
WP — Alyssa Hileman (P) 7IP, 2R, 8H, 0BB, 4SO; LP — Alyssa Adama (CE) 7IP, 3R, 5H, 0BB, 4SO.
MULTIPLE HITS: P — Allison Rose 2-for-3; CE — Cory Jones 3-for-3, Devyn Savage 2-for-3.
EXTRA-BASE HITS: P — Rose 2B, HR, Jen Brady 2B, Karli Haines 2B; CE — none.
RUNS: P — Carleigh Parsons, Arden Rabiger, Rose; CE — Tori McCoach, Alyssa Michniewicz.
