PITTSBURGH, PA - This afternoon the Redhawks softball team hit the road for the first time in a while to play two against Pitt-Bradford. La Roche was able to come back with a 1-1 split with the Panthers.
Game One
The first game did not go the way the Redhawks would have liked to have seen. Pitt-Bradford's Kindra Wessels was credited with today's win, and a no shutout. The Hurler allowed only three hits and no runs, striking out three La Roche batters.
Kelly Denk, Emilee Waldrop, and Macy Vignolini were each credited with a hit, unfortunately the team could not capitalize on these opportunities and at the end had a total of seven runners left on base.
Alexis Myers was the Redhawk pitcher taking the loss today. Myers allowed seven runs on 12 hits.
Game Two
The second game of the double header started out much better than the first. La Roche was the first on the board with Kelly Denk who singled up the middle to push Ashtin Hoover across home plate.
Garrah Milochik followed suit with a triple out to left field, allowing Denk to score. Emilee Waldrop the pitcher wanted to help herself out and get her team on the board early. She singled to right center, allowing Milochick to make the short run home. The Redhawks had an early 3-0 lead in the first inning.
In the fourth inning Ashtin Hoover started the scoring rally with a double down the left field line, pushing two runs in.
Denk singled once again to allow Hoover to score. At the top of the fourth inning the Redhawks had gained a 6-0 lead.
The Panthers didn't stay down long however, and they tied the game up at 6-6 by the bottom of the sixth inning.
La Roche however, wasn't willing to accept another defeat and scored another five runs during their sixth and seventh innings at the plate.
Once again Pitt-Bradford came back with a rally in the seventh inning once again, tying the game at 11-11 and forcing extra innings.
The Redhawks stayed tenacious and it translated into their at-bats. Quinn Hughes was able to reach first on a throwing error by Bradford's shortstop. The same error allowed Milochik to make a mad dash for home plate, giving the Redhawks a 1-0 lead.
It was Abby Hoffman for La Roche that would be crowned the hero of the evening. Hoffman hit a home run out to left field, driving in Hughes, earning herself two RBIS, and increased the lead to 14-11.
The team wasn't through quite yet. Hoover singled to center field, advanced to second, and tried to make it to third, but was caught stealing on the way. The distraction did, however, allow Macy Vignolini to make it across home plate before Hoover was tagged out, making the run count, and the Redhawks with a four run lead.
La Roche stood strong on defense and knocked down the Panthers three in a row to score themselves an extra innings victory.
Waldrop was credited with the win. The right-handed pitcher threw 99 pitches overall and allowed nine runs on 12 hits. She struck out one.
Next up for La Roche is their final home game against Penn State-Altoona on Monday. The double header is scheduled for 3:00 and 5:00 PM.