Softball: Lane escapes Young after wild finish
Updated: May 4, 2012 8:31PM
Heading into the bottom of the seventh with a three-run lead, visiting Lane wasn’t expecting to hold its collective breath while waiting for a safe or out call from the home plate umpire on what would be the last play of the game against Young.
The bang-bang play went the Indians’ way, granting them a 5-4 win and a unblemished 10-0 record in the Red-North.
“Definitely was a lot closer than we wanted it to be,” Lane coach George Stavrakas said.
The Dolphins (18-10, 6-4) thought they tied the game after the bases-loaded single by Sam Kraus that scored Nikki Pietrus but left Maddie DiVittorio looking up in disbelief after being called out at home.
Several boisterous Dolphins’ fans didn’t hide their disagreement of the umpires decision. Young coach, Mike Hinrichs, pleaded to no avail well after the two teams exchanged handshakes.
“What are you going to do, he made the call,” Hinrichs said. “We played well and battled to the end and did all I can ask for.”
The Indians (18-10) took a 4-1 lead after a three-run third that was highlighted by a leadoff double by pitcher Kaleigh Ambrose (2-for-4, RBI, run) against Dolphins starter Zoe Nykaza.
Stephanie Schrieber hit her third homer of the year for the Dolphins to pull them within 4-2 through five. The Indians answered in the sixth on an RBI single by Ambrose (15-5) before the stage was set for comeback attempt in the bottom of the seventh.
After a leadoff strikeout, the Dolphins got consecutive hits from pinch-hitter Miranda Delgado and Pietrus (two runs scored). DiVittorio (2-for-3, 2B) reached on an error to leave the bases loaded for Schrieber (2-for-3, RBI, run).
Ambrose got Schrieber to fly out to short center for the second out before Kraus’ bloop single to right set up Savanna Dickhut’s assist to catcher Emily Espinosa.
“We had a great play by our right fielder,” Ambrose said. “I trust my catcher and my outfielder to make that play. I was pretty sure she was out.”
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