(PHOENIXVILLE, Pa.) – The Wilson softball team had arguably its best day of the season as it swept hosting Valley Forge in a CSAC doubleheader on Thursday. The Phoenix recorded their first shutout of the season in the opener and jumped out to another big lead in the second game before it was ended because of darkness.
The Basics
Scores: Game 1 – Wilson 15, Valley Forge 0 (5 innings)
Game 2 – Wilson 10, Valley Forge 4 (6 innings)
Venue: Valley Forge Softball Field
Records: Wilson 9-13, 3-5 CSAC; Valley Forge 7-15, 0-8 CSAC
How It Happened (Game 1)
- The opener was Wilson's finest game of the season thus far as the offense pounded out a season 17 hits. The Phoenix didn't waste any time getting runners on base either as Alyssa Wenger (Jr., Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg) quickly singled to right and promptly stole second. Two batters later she scored on a Haley Privett (Jr., Fayetteville, Pa. / Chambersburg Magnet) single to center. After an Alecia Hamilton (Sr., Canton, Ohio / GlenOak) base hit, Madison Knerr (Fy., Gettysburg, Pa. / Gettysburg) doubled to right to score Privett. Ashley Stevens (So., Valencia, Calif. / Valencia) followed up with a base hit to center to score Hamilton and Knerr.
- After a scoreless second, Wilson plated three in the third. Hamilton scored a second time after leading off with a double and being brought in on a Klarissa Miley (Fy., Spring Run, Pa. / Fannett Metal) base hit. Wenger then made it 6-0 as she took a pitch to center to score Knerr. A sac fly by Addyson Stewart (Fy., Felton, Del. / Lake Forest) then brought in Stevens to make the score 7-0.
- Three more runs followed in the fourth. Haiden Brookens (Jr., Fayetteville, Pa. / Chambersburg Magnet) led off with a single to right and took advantage of an error to come all the way around to score. Hamilton, who reached on the error, eventually scored on a ground out by Knerr. Stevens capped the scoring with a double to center to score Katherine Kimmel (So., Dover, Pa. / Northern York) who pinch ran for Claudia Umbrell (Gr., Willow Hill, Pa. / Fannett Metal) who singled to left.
- Wilson wasn't done as it put up a five spot in the fifth. Base hits by Brookens, Kaesey Greene (Sr., Taneytown, Md. / Francis Scott Key), Rebecca Green (Fy., Littlestown, Pa. / Littlestown), and Stevens all brought in runs to set up the final score.
- While the offense was doing work, so was the Phoenix battery. Thanks to the work of Makenna Snodgrass (Sr., Flagstaff, Ariz. / Flagstaff), the Phoenix defense didn't have to do to much as she limited the Patriots' opportunities. She went the distance and gave Wilson its first shutout on the season and did so with seven strikeouts while allowing just two hits and a walk.
How It Happened (Game 2)
- As they did in the first game, the Phoenix opened up the nightcap with four runs in the first inning. Knerr brought in the first with a bases-loaded base hit to bring in Brookens. Umbrell followed up with a base hit up the middle to score Privett. Madison Briggs (Fy., Lock Haven, Pa. / Central Mountain) then made it 4-0 with a single to right that scored Knerr and Hamilton. Two more runs were added in the top of third as Knerr and Stevens both scored.
- Wilson eventually built up another double digit lead in the sixth as Stevens scored again, this time on a sac fly by Brookens. One batter later, Privett doubled to right center to score Wenger and Stewart. Knerr hit in Kimmel who was pinch running for Privett to make the score 10-0.
- Valley Forge looked to keep the game alive and almost did so with four runs in the bottom of the sixth, but lighting became an issue and the game was called following the sixth.
Inside The Numbers
- Eleven different batters combined for 17 hits in the opener while 10 did so for the 17 in the second game.
- Knerr led the Phoenix offensively as she combined to go 5-for-7 between both games. She hit four RBI and score four runs, evenly split with two of each in both games.
- Stevens was right there with Knerr and also went 5-for-7 from the plate between both games. Stevens tallied four RBI in the opener and scored three runs between both games.
- Knerr recorded the win in Game 2 to improve to 2-3 on the season. She struck out five and allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits, a walk, and one hit batter in 5.2 innings of work.
Up Next
Wilson will look to keep the momentum going with another road doubleheader at Keystone on Saturday. First pitch with the Giants is set for 1 p.m.
