(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – Wilson opened a busy weekend by hosting Clarks Summit in a CSAC doubleheader on a hot Thursday afternoon. The Phoenix dropped a nailbiter in the opener in extra innings, but rebounded to soundly defeat the Defenders in the nightcap.
The Basics
Scores: Game 1 – Wilson 2, Clarks Summit 4 (8 innings)
Game 2 – Wilson 8, Clarks Summit 2
Venue: Kris's Meadow
Records: Wilson 10-16, 4-8 CSAC; Clarks Summit 9-17, 2-6 CSAC
How It Happened (Game 1)
- Clarks Summit started the scoring as the Defenders plated a run in the first. A bunt single and a stolen base put the visitors in scoring position which they eventually took advantage of following an infield error by the Phoenix.
- Wilson was able to answer in the bottom of the second. Alecia Hamilton (Sr., Canton, Ohio / GlenOak) and Madison Knerr (Fy., Gettysburg, Pa. / Gettysburg) provided base hits to get on base near the beginning of the frame. Two batters after Knerr, Ashley Stevens (So., Valencia, Calif. / Valencia) hit a two-out single to right to bring in Hamilton. Knerr was also able to score following an error by the Defenders getting the ball in.
- The score remained there until the seventh inning. Down to their last out, the Defenders were able to tie the game as an errant throw to third allowed them to tie the game. With the international tiebreaker in effect, Clarks Summit added two in the top of the eighth and held on for the in.
How It Happened (Game 2)
- The nightcap was more kind to the Blue and White despite the Defenders scoring first once again with a run in the top of the second. Once again the Phoenix responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. Morgan Briggs (Fy., Lock Haven, Pa. / Central Mountain) led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch and moving to second on a ground out. Stevens followed with a base hit to left to move her to third, and Alyssa Wenger (Jr., Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg) was able launch a pitch to left center for a double to score both Briggs and Stevens.
- Clarks Summit was able to tie the game as a result of an infield error in the top of the third, but the Phoenix recovered nicely in the bottom of the inning. A pair of base hits and a hit by pitch loaded the bases to start the Phoenix's half. A wild pitch followed to score Hamilton to regain the lead. Hannah Lyons (Jr., Dover, Del. / Dover) then singled to right to hit in Knerr while an error getting the ball in allowed Haiden Brookens (Jr., Fayetteville, Pa. / Chambersburg Magnet) to score. Later in the inning a double steal allowed Lyons to score as Stevens took second.
- Wilson added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth. Both of them came on a base hit by Wenger up the middle to score Lyons and Stevens once again. Lyons initially got on from a double to left center just before Stevens singled the opposite way.
Inside The Numbers
- Hamilton and Stevens both had huge days as they recorded three hits in the second game. Stevens was 3-for-3 with two runs scored while Hamilton was 3-for-4 with one run scored. Both hit safely in the opener to give them four hits on the day.
- Wenger's streak of scoring in 16 consecutive games came to an end in the opener, but she made up for it with four RBI in the second after she went 2-for-4. Lyons also went 2-for-4 in the game with two runs scored and an RBI.
- Paige Dill (Fy., New Oxford, Pa. / New Oxford) was the pitcher of record in both games for the Phoenix. After taking the tough-luck loss in the opener, she rebounded nicely to allow just two runs, one earned on nine hits in the complete game victory in the second to improve to 5-6.
Up Next
The penultimate CSAC series for the Phoenix is scheduled for Saturday as Wilson heads to St. Elizabeth. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
