Lady Hornets knock off Loyalsock in extra innings

By: Ed Weaver  /  May 13, 2017

The Wellsboro Varsity Softball team picked up their 14th win in row with an 8-7 win in extra innings over Loyalsock on Friday, May 12.

The Lady Hornets got things started in the bottom of the first with three early runs. Back-to-back doubles by juniors Alyssa Yungwirth and Sydney Tremper started the inning. Yungwirth scored on Tremper's double, a base hit by junior Brianne Keane scored Tremper to make it 2-0, and freshman Cathryn Brought scored hit an earlier base hit.

When things looked to be going Wellsboro's way, Loyalsock completely shifted gears and took the lead in the top of the second inning. The Lady Lancers scored six runs on four base hits and two errors to got up 6-3.

Instead of hanging their heads, the Lady Hornets regrouped in the bottom of the inning and slowly began chipping away at Loyalsock's lead.

After a walk by sophomore Heidi Zuchowski, sophomore Tiana Lecker hit into a fielder's choice to reach base. A base hit by freshman Ryann Adams moved Lecker into scoring position and a base hit by Yungwirth scored Lecker to make the score 6-4.

Wellsboro again added a run in the bottom of the third. Keane singled to leadoff the inning and would score on a Zuchowski base hit to bring the Lady Hornets within a run. The score remained 6-5 in favor of Loyalsock until the Lancers hit a home run in the top of the fifth off Yungwirth.

Trailing 7-5 going into the bottom of the fifth, the Lady Hornets tied the game up at 7-7 with two more runs. Sophomore Hailey Neal and junior Kailee Clymer both reached base and were driven home and an Adams base hit.

While Loyalsock struggled to hit Yungwirth the Lady Hornets had chances to end the game in regulation. Wellsboro stranded four combined runners in the sixth and seventh innings to send the game into the top of the eighth. Yungwirth retired the first two batters in order. After the three-hitter reached base, the four-hitter grounded out to Yungwirth to end the inning.

Neal led off the bottom of the eighth with a base hit and advanced into scoring position as freshman Rileigh Gerges reached base on an error. A walk-off base hit by Lecker in the next at bat scored Neal giving Wellsboro the win.

"In the second inning we provided Loyalsock an opportunity to score multiple runs," said head coach Ron Brought. "Even after that, our girls didn't miss a beat. They are fighters with a never-quit attitude. These ladies are playing their hearts out, game after game. They are definitely and deservedly putting their stamp on Wellsboro Softball and the coaching staff could not be more proud of them."

Yungwirth was 4-for-5 with two doubles to lead Wellsboro at the plate. Clymer, Neal, Adams, Keane, and Brought had two hits each while Lecker, Zuchowski, and Tremper added hits, with Tremper's being a double. Tremper also drew two walks on the afternoon.

Brought started on the mound and pitched the first three innings, giving up six runs (three earned) on three hits. Yungwirth came on in relief for the win, her 13th of the season and 33rd of her career, for five innings. Yungwirth gave up two hits, an earned run, and struck out four.

The win improves the Lady Hornets' record to 15-1 (13-1 NTL Large School Division). The Lady Hornets will be back in action on Monday, May 15 at Hughesville.