Hempfield tallied twice in the top of the seventh to top Solanco 13-11 in a softball slugfest Monday, April 22. The Mules came up short despite four-hit games from Jade Eshelman and Sierra Dean and the first pitching appearance of the season by ace Hanna Phillips. Asaysha Raihl started the decisive rally with a booming triple to left-center and scored to go-ahead run when Bella Rankin ripped a single to center. Katie Bemesderfer's sacrifice fly made it 13-11 with Solanco right fielder Desiree DeHaven making the grab. DeHaven then made another nice running catch to keep it a two-run game.
In the home half of the seventh, Kara McClune singled with two outs to keep the Mules alive but the next batter struck out to end it. Solanco had bounced back from a two-run deficit to tie it in the sixth and nearly took the lead. McClune got things going with a single and advanced on a Kendall Janssen sac bunt. Eshelman, who was 4 for 4 with two home runs and five RBIs, plated McClune with a double and scored on a Dean single to tie the game 11-11. Becca Foulk singled to put runners on the corners and Phillips was issued an intentional walk to load the bases for Skyla Townsley. Townsley drilled a low line drive up the middle, but the Hempfield pitcher managed to make the grab and then threw to first to double off Phillips on a close play. Instead of taking the lead entering the final frame, the game stayed tied. "A couple inches to the side and we score two runs. It was that simple," Solanco coach Brett Miller said. "I thought the girl was back [to first base safely]. We didn't get the call so you've got to keep playing." One positive for the Mules is that the pitching staff is getting healthier. Phillips was unable to pitch in the first 11 games because of an injury, Dean was also making her return to the circle after missing several games. Townsley did an admirable job filling in for Dean. "Sierra and Hanna got their innings in," said Miller. "They were both coming off injuries…It's important to get everyone back and be at full strength. Hanna is obviously not throwing at full strength but she needed get some innings and see what happens." Solanco surged to a 5-0 lead in the first inning. Janssen drew a one-out walk and Eshleman followed with a two-run homer to left-center. Janssen held up to make sure the ball fell in and Eshelman was hot on her heels and they crossed the plate in rapid succession. Dean doubled to deep left and Foulk walked. Phillips drilled a shot in the gap which caromed off the glove of the sprawling center fielder for a two-run triple and Phillips scored on a throwing error on the play. Hempfield answered instantly with four runs in the top of the second to narrow the gap to 5-4 then added three more in the third for a 7-5 edge. Eshelman led off the bottom of the third with her second roundtripper of the game. Phillips made her debut in the circle in the top of the fourth and recorded three strikeouts in her first inning of work. The Mules regained the advantage with two runs. Eshelman knocked in McClune with a hit on a ball through the hole and hustled into second for a double. The sophomore catcher scored on a Dean single to put the hosts ahead 8-7. Hempfield scored three times in the top of the fifth to go back in front, 10-8. Solanco got back within one when Phillips started the bottom of the fifth with a triple over the center fielder's head and scored on a Kelsey Sheets groundout. Hempfield tacked on a run in the top of the sixth. "Hempfield is a very good squad," Miller said. "They hit the ball. We hit the ball well. Jade had a pretty good game and Sierra. The others were battling. It's part of what the learning process is and they certainly have been doing that." Comments are closed.
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