PITTSBURGH, Pa. – La Roche softball enjoyed the friendly confines of its home diamond after 10 games on the road to start the season, hosting St. Vincent on Saturday. The Redhawks used a five-run first inning to charge towards a 10-6 victory in game one, but the runs weren't as easy to come by in game two, falling to the Bearcats, 5-2.
GAME ONE: La Roche 10 St. Vincent 6
La Roche wasted no time storming ahead, putting up five runs in the bottom of the first in the opening game of the day.
Emma Bizay started the scoring, crossing on a wild pitch, the Garrah Milochik made it 2-0, driving in Ashtin Hoover.
Samantha Dixon drove in the final three runs of the frame, plating Brandi Clyde, Milochik and Jesslyn Daniels with a bases clearing double.
The Redhawks upped the lead to 6-0 in the bottom of the third, when Daniels notched an RBI double to score Milochik.
St. Vincent was finally able to hit the scoreboard in the top of the fourth, plating three runs behind pair of RBI singles and an RBI ground out, making it a 6-3 game.
After a scoreless fifth inning both ways, La Roche added much needed insurance in the bottom of the sixth, scoring four runs to build a 10-3 edge.
Makenzie Formeck's RBI single drove in Katie Gaughan and Bizay to make it 8-3, then Clyde singled in Maura Wade as the score moved to 9-3.
Formeck was the final run to cross in the inning, as she scored on a wild pitch.
The Bearcats made it interesting in the top of the seventh, scoring three runs on a two RBI double and an RBI, but the Redhawks would seal the victory without any further harm.
Maura Wade got the start and in the complete game victory, allowed six runs, eight hits, three walks and struck out two.
Offensively, La Roche had 11 hits, as all nine starters had at least one hit.
Milochik (2-for-3) and Daniels (2-for-4) were the two batters to have a multi-hit game.
GAME TWO: St. Vincent 5 La Roche 2
The first inning of game two saw both teams hit the scoreboard, as St. Vincent took an immediate 1-0 lead on an RBI single.
The Redhawks countered in the bottom of the first, as Formeck drove in Bizay with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 1-1, then ultimately took the lead in the bottom of the third, when Formeck again brought in Bizay with an RBI single.
The lead was short lived, as the Bearcats answered in the top of the fourth with an RBI single of their own to even the score at 2-2.
La Roche had a golden opportunity in the bottom of the sixth to regain the lead, loading the bases with one out, but were unable to bring a run across.
Unfortunately for the Redhawks, St. Vincent had the same success in the top of the seventh as it did in game one, plating three runs on a pair of RBI single and a steal of home to take a 5-2 lead and close the game.
In game two, Kynnydy Lewis took the circle for La Roche, throwing 3.2 innings, allowing two runs, six hits and walked two.
Emma Kaufman pitched in relief and in the loss, allowed three runs, five hits, one walk and struck out two.
Offensively, the Redhawks had nine hits, with eight of nine batters in the order picking up a hit and Hoover's 2-for-3 leading the way.
La Roche returns to the road for a pair of doubleheaders this coming week, starting with Thiel on Wednesday, Mar. 27. Opening pitch is slated for 3 p.m.