GREENSBURG, Pa. – La Roche softball squared off against Pitt-Greensburg in its final road doubleheader of the season on Wednesday. In game one, the Redhawks fell just short of a comeback, falling 7-6, then in game two, both offenses erupted, but the Bobcats took it by a score of 15-11.
GAME ONE: Pitt-Greensburg 7 La Roche 6
La Roche was locked in to start the series, putting three runs on the board in the top of the first inning.
Maura Wade plated the first run, scoring on an error, then Jesslyn Daniels belted a two RBI double to make it 3-0.
Greensburg had an immediate answer, scoring two to cut the deficit in the bottom of the first, then added three in the second to take a 5-3 lead, followed by two more in the bottom of the third to up the edge to 7-3.
The Redhawks did all they could to pull off a comeback, but fell just short as they scored three runs in the top of the seventh.
Emma Bizay started the scoring with a double that plated Makenzie Formeck, then Ashtin Hoover picked up a sacrifice bunt RBI to score Bizay.
Garrah Milochik closed the scoring with an RBI single to bring Wade home.
Wade started in the circle, tossing two innings, allowing five runs (three earned), seven hits, walked one and struck out one.
Klover Haberthier threw four innings of relief, allowing two runs (one earned), four hits and walked one.
Offensively, the Redhawks put up 10 hits, as Formeck (2-for-3), Daniels and Wade (2-for-4), each had multiple.
GAME TWO: Pitt-Greensburg 15 La Roche 11
Much like game one, La Roche took the lead right away in the top of the first of game two, as Daniels drove in Bizay with an RBI single, then Kynnydy Lewis made it 2-0 with an RBI groundout to score Ashtin Hoover.
Greensburg had an immediate answer, scoring four in the bottom of the first to take the lead, then added five in the bottom of the second to lead 9-2.
Four Redhawks would cross the plate in the top of the third to trim the deficit to 9-6.
Hoover and Lewis both notched RBI doubles, Lewis's was worth two RBI, then Cassidee Fitterer added an RBI single. Wade, Briana Wynn, Hoover and Lewis all scored in the frame.
The Bobcats added one tally in the bottom of the third to make it 10-6, but La Roche picked up a sacrifice RBI in the fourth from Daniels, then in the fifth, Milochik scored on an error to make it a 10-8 game.
Greensburg would add a pair in the bottom of the fifth to move the lead up to 12-8, but the Redhawks would again chip away.
La Roche moved the score to 12-11 in the top of the sixth, as Hoover and Wade both collected RBI singles and Ashlee Bair drove in a run with an RBI ground out.
However, the Bobcats would respond by matching the three runs in the bottom of the sixth to close the scoring.
Emma Kaufman got the start and across 1+ inning allowed seven runs (one earned), two hits and walked one.
Haberthier threw three innings of relief, allowing five runs (three earned), seven hits and struck out one.
Wade rounded out the time in the circle, tossing two innings, allowing three runs, five hits and walked one.
Offensively, the Redhawks ripped 15 hits, as Daniels went 3-for-3, while Hoover, Wade, Formeck and Lewis each had two. All nine batters picked up at least one hit.
La Roche concludes the 2024 regular season on Friday, May 3, as its original Saturday matchup has moved up a day. Senior Day will see four players honored against Pitt-Bradford and first pitch is set for 3 p.m.