Mayfield, Ohio-On Friday, the visting Chardon Hilltoppers (16-4) took down the Mayfield Wildcats (1-17)
The Hilltoppers would come to bat first. Grace Legan would swing and fly out to center, getting this one underway. Sidney Nagaj would collect her first hit with a 1-out single. Amy O´Brien would get an RBI opportunity early as Nagaj stole second. A base hit from O´Brien would hold the runner at 3rd, but not for long as Sarah Sutton RBI single to center put the Hilltoppers in front. Madison Zombory lined out to short, but O´Brien steals 2nd setting up Sydney Murray to drive in two runners to give the Hilltoppers a three run lead. Mackenzie Kilpeck´s fly out ended the top of the 1st. Emily Daedlow would become the first of five walks issued by Murray. Saxten Ley´s sacrifice bunt advances Daedlow to 2nd. Angeleah Saltenis drew the 2nd walk of the inning. Emily Melito struck out, Murray´s first of the night. Elena Baghasdahnar grounded out to end the 1st inning. 3-0 Chardon after one.
Josie LoCoco and Legan both fly out, their at-bats separated by Emma Anderson single, Nagaj popped out, ending the frame. Bella Gerome got plunked by Murray. A bunt attempt by Nicole Paradise resulted in the first out of the inning. Sarah Piazza became the 2nd strikeout victim of the night. Makayla Palko drew a walk, Daedlow went down swinging on strikes, becoming Murray´s 3rd of the night.
A quick 1-2-3 top of the 3rd for Chardon, O´Brien flied out, Sutton lined out and Zombory grounded out. Back to back walks ushered by Murray to Ley and Saitenis. Murray responded promptly with three consecutive strikeouts, Melito, Baghasdahnar and Gerome in order in her last inning of work.
Murray would continue to back her pitching up at the plate, collecting her second hit of the night. After she swiped 2nd, Kilpeck grounded to short where Murray would be called out on offensive interference. Anderson struck out, Legan´s ground ball to Piazza retired the side. Amy O´Brien took over in relief and continued the strong outing for the Hilltoppers pitching staff. Paradise grounds out to O´Brien, Piazza attempts to bunt her way on but another fabulous play by the pitcher results in another out. O´Brien earned her first strikeout, getting Palko to go down swinging.
Nagaj drew a walk to lead it off. With one out following O´Brien´s pop out, Sutton singled bringing Nagaj all the way to 3rd. Zombory records a productive out as Nagaj comes home and Sutton advances her way to 3rd. Riley Ford would pinch hit for Murray, popping out and ending the frame. The Hilltoppers led 4-0. Daedlow was retired quickly popping out to short. The plot thickened for Chardon as the Wildcats would collect three consecutive singles to load the bases. Ley, Saitenis and Melito being the culprits. O´Brien answered back quickly, collecting a strikeout of Baghasdahnr and forcing Gerome into a fly out. O´Brien worked her way out of a bases loaded jam without giving up a run.
Morgan O´Leary was called upon to pinch-hit for Kilpeck, but was retired quickly after a pop-out to 3rd. LoCoco blooped a basehit to center, followed by a fly out by Anderson. The Hilltoppers countered with three successive hits of their own. Legan singled and advanced LoCoco to 2nd. Nagaj drove in her first RBI of the game as LoCoco scored, making it 5-0. Legan and Nagaj stole 2nd and 3rd, as O´Brien would come through by driving in another runner as Legan scored, but Nagaj was thrown out on a play at the plate. Chardon´s three run lead was doubled , as they now lead 6-0. With some work to do the Wildcats got a good start to the inning as Paradise collected a basehit. Piazza quickly eradicated the good start as O´Brien turned a nice 1-5-3 twin killer. Kaylee Tsvedos pinch-hit for Palko, O´Brien made short work of the at-bat, she struck her out to end the inning.
Sutton popped out to 1st, but Zombory followed this up with her first hit of the game. Ford went down on strikes swinging, and Kilpeck flied out to send us to the bottom of the 7th. Daedlow lined out to right and the next batter, Ley, would reach on an error. She stole second giving Saitenis a chance at an RBI, but she watched strike three. With 2 outs now and Ley having stolen 3rd, Melito came through with the big hit, giving the Wildcats their first run of the game. Sarah Sutton caught a fly ball off the bat of Baghasdahnar, bringing this game to a close.
Sydney Murray captured the win, she went 3 no-hit innings, allowed 5 walks and struck out 7. Amy O´Brien came in for relief and did not disappoint, going 4 innings, allowed 4 hits and one run, striking out 4 Wildcats.
FINAL LINES: SM- 3.0IP 5BB 7SO
AO- 4.0IP 4H 1R 4SO
The Hilltopper offense was alive and well today, Sydney Murray went 2-2 with a pair of RBIs, Sidney Nagaj finished 2-3 with a walk, RBI and run scored. Amy O´Brien and Sarah Sutton both were 2-3 with an RBI and run scored.
FINAL LINES:
SM- 2-2 RBI
SN 2-3 BB 2R RBI
AO- 2-4 RBI R SS- 2-4 RBI R
Makayla Palko earned the loss, but was able to go the distance, giving up 11 hits, 6 runs, 4 of them earned, walked 2 batters and struck out 2.
FINAL LINE:
MP: 7.0IP 11H 6R 4ER 2BB 2SO
The Wildat offense was quiet, collecting 5 hits and scoring a run. They were lead by Emma Melito, Angeleah Saitenis, Saxten Ley and Nicole Paradise.
FINAL LINES:
EM: 2-4 RBI
AS: 1-2 2BB
SL: 1-2 R 1BB
NP: 1-3
