GREENSBURG, Pa. – La Roche softball returned to action on Wednesday afternoon in AMCC play against Pitt-Greensburg to close the regular season. The Redhawks played host on the Bobcats home turf due to field conditions.
In game one, La Roche battled back from multiple deficits to take the victory, while in game two, a late opportunity would go astray for the red and white, falling to the Bobcats.
GAME ONE: La Roche 9 Pitt-Greensburg 6
Greensburg was the early aggressor in game one, hitting a two-run homer in the top of the first, then a solo homer and RBI double in the top of the second to storm ahead, 4-0.
The Redhawks used the bottom of the third inning to cut the deficit to 4-3, as Finley Hohn delivered an RBI double, followed by a Cassidee Fitterer two RBI single.
The Bobcats responded in the top of the fourth with an RBI single to go ahead 5-3, then an RBI double to make it 6-3. The highlight of the double was La Roche throwing out runners at home and third base.
The Redhawks used that momentum to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs to make it 6-6.
Ashlee Bair opened the scoring, drawing a bases loaded walk, then, Makenzie Formeck's RBI fielder's choice brought in one and on the same play, Maura Wade scored on a Bobcat error.
The red and white would tack on a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth, as Wade produced a sacrifice fly and Brooke Murgenovich singled in a run to move ahead 8-6.
One more Redhawk run crossed in the bottom of the sixth, when Klover Haberthier scored Emma Bizay with an RBI single, making it the eventual final of 9-6.
Haberthier got the start and in the no decision, allowed four runs and four hits in 1+ inning pitch.
Kynnydy Lewis threw three innings of relief, allowing two runs (one earned), five hits, walked two and struck out one.
Wade earned the victory, allowing just two hits, one walk and struck out one across three innings.
Offensively, La Roche had 11 hits, with Formeck, Hohn and Haberthier all finishing with two each to lead the way.
GAME TWO: Pitt-Greensburg 5 La Roche 3
Once again, Pitt-Greensburg struck first, with another two-run homer to jump ahead in the top of the first, 2-0.
This time, the Redhawks wasted no time tying the game, equaling the Bobcats two runs in the bottom of the first.
Fitterer opened the scoring with an RBI single to plate Murgenovich, then Bair singled in Formeck to tie the game at 2-2.
After a scoreless second inning, the Bobcats hit the board for a single run in the top of the third, off a solo homer, regaining the edge at 3-2.
It wasn't until the top of the seventh when Greensburg would tack on a couple more runs, upping the edge to 5-2.
In the do-or-die bottom of the seventh, La Roche would get the first three aboard, including a run off a Wade RBI double, but runners would be left stranded on second and third with no outs to end the game.
Haberthie would again start in game two, throwing 2.1 innings, allowing three runs (one earned) and four hits.
Hohn threw 0.2 innings of relief, allowing one walk, while Wade threw four more innings to close out the contest, allowing two runs, three hits and struck out three.
Offensively, the Redhawks collected nine hits, with Murgenovich and Wade each having two to lead the charge.
La Roche now awaits the results of Hilbert/Pitt-Bradford in terms of its playoff destiny. For the Redhawks to make the AMCC Tournament, they are in need of a Hilbert sweep over the Panthers.