Bellwood-Antis began April with an 8-7 win over Glendale when Danielle Riley hit a walk-off single with runners on second and third with two outs in the final inning. Thursday, the Lady Blue Devils closed out April in almost the exact same fashion.
They fell behind the Lady Vikings 6-4 when Glendale scored three runs in the fourth inning and tacked on another in the fifth, but with two outs in the seventh, Bellwood-Antis was in a position to take the lead, down 6-5 with runners on second and third with two outs.
But this time, it was not meant to be for the Lady Blue Devils. Glendale pitcher Amanda Cochran got Leah Snyder, Bellwood-Antis’ offensive star of the game with two hits and two RBIs, to ground out and even the season series at one.
“We’d like to have a rubber match and see who would come out on top,” Bellwood-Antis Manager Alex Sitman said. “We are evenly matched, and we’re both young teams. The thing about it is, when you’re playing teams that you have had success against, and they have had success against you, those are the toughest games to win.”
Early in the game, it was Bellwood-Antis having the success, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Tory Baldauf singled, stole second, and went to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a Christine Pfhaler ground out. It marked the first time the Lady Blue Devils had scored first in any of their 11 games.
Glendale struck back in the bottom of the inning when Ashlee McQuown collected her first of four RBIs in the game with a two-out single that scored Kristen Laing.
Snyder helped culminate offensive outbursts in the second and fourth innings with RBI singles, and Riley scored on a wild pitch to give Bellwood-Antis a 4-2 advantage.
However, in the bottom of the inning, the Lady Blue Devils’ nemesis, the free pass, led to their downfall. Emily Derr, who had pitched brilliantly through the first three innings, allowing only one earned run, walked four batters before McQuown capped off the comeback with a two-run single to put Glendale ahead 5-4.
The Lady Vikings added an unearned run in the fifth, but Derr held them scoreless for the remainder of the game.
In the top of the sixth, Glendale began a showcase of sparkling web gems, the first being a running catch by centerfielder C.J. Krise on a line drive by Riley. One batter later, Snyder hit a rocket between first and second base, but McQuown made a remarkable play on a one-hopper to save a hit.
The most important play came an inning later. With a full count leading off the seventh inning, Pfhaler hit a liner that seemed destined for the gap in right-center field, but Justine Morrison made a jumping catch to rob her.
Tamara Askey singled, went to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on a fly out and stole home after Derr walked and the Lady Blue Devils pulled off a double steal. After saving the game with three amazing defensive plays, the Lady Vikings nearly let it slip away with an awful one. Riley hit a slow roller to Laing at shortstop, but she was unable to get a grip on the ball, and Derr moved to third. Riley stole second, setting up the dramatic finish.
“To their credit, the last few innings they played very good defense,” Sitman said. “They had some clutch hitting, and in that one inning where we walked a couple more than normal, they showed that they can fight back on you, and they did today.”
Bellwood-Antis will participate in a tournament at Southern Huntingdon Saturday. The first game of the four-team tournament will start at 10 a.m.
The Lady Blue Devils return to regular season action Monday when they host Mount Union at 4:30 p.m.
Glendale 6 Bellwood-Antis 5
BELLWOOD-ANTIS – Weyant, cf, 3-0-0; Baldauf, ss, 4-1-1; Pfhaler, 2b, 4-0-1; Askey, c, 4-1-1; Derr, p, 3-1-1; Brown, 3b, 3-1-0; Putt, rf, 1-0-0; Riley, rf, 3-1-1; Snyder, lf, 4-0-2; Hamer, 1b, 2-0-0. TOTALS 31-5-7.
GLENDALE – Morrison, 2b, 3-1-0; Laing, ss, 2-2-1; Krise, cf, 2-0-1; Dick, pr, 0-0-0; McQuown, 1b, 4-0-2; Twigg, dp, 4-0-0; Peoples, c, 4-1-0; Edmiston, rf, 1-0-0; McGarvey, lf, 3-1-1; Matthews, 3b, 2-1-0; Cochran, p, 0-0-0. TOTALS 25-6-5.
Bellwood-Antis 110 020 1 – 5-7-3
Glendale 101 310 X – 6-5-3
RBI: McQuown 4, Krise 1, Snyder 2, Pfhaler 1.
SO: Derr 1, Cochran 5.
BB: Derr 8, Cochran 4.
WP: Cochran LP: Derr.
