(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – In a matchup that felt more like a playoff preview than a midweek twin bill, Wilson and Lancaster Bible traded blows Tuesday, each claiming a win in a split doubleheader. The Phoenix were knocked from the ranks of unbeatens in the United East as the Chargers powered their way to a win in the opener. However the Blue and White lived up to their nickname and rose from the ashes with a massive comeback in the bottom of the seventh to score a walk-off win in the opener.
The Basics
Scores: Game 1 – Wilson 7, Lancaster Bible 11
Game 2 – Wilson 6, Lancaster Bible 5
Venue: Wilson Softball Field
Records: Wilson 26-8-1, 13-1 UE, Lancaster Bible 17-11, 10-3 UE
How It Happened (Game 1)
- LBC opened the scoring in the top of the third with three hits generating a run. The Chargers built upon that lead with three more hits with assistance from a pair of infield errors to make it 4-0.
- Addison Woods (FY, North East, Md. / Tome School) sparked the Wilson bats in the bottom of the fourth with a leadoff double to right center. After moving to third with speed on a sacrifice, she scored on an infield single by Jenna Weaver (So., Camp Hill, Pa. / Cedar Cliff). Unfortunately the Chargers were able to answer themselves with two more runs on five hits to make it a 6-1 game.
- Wilson got back into the mix in the bottom of the fifth as Katelyn Keller (So., Orrtanna, Pa. / Gettysburg) laid down a perfect bunt single. As the LBC first baseman attempted to throw to second to catch Emily Randalls (So., Dillsburg, Pa. / Northern York) off the base, the ball sailed into left field and resulted in both players scoring easily. Three batters later Kayla Talbert (Jr., Hagerstown, Md. / Saint Peter's) hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Brooke Leedy (So., Fayetteville, Pa. / Chambersburg).
- Lancaster Bible couldn't be stopped as the visitors scored three more in the sixth and two more in the seventh. Wilson didn't go down without a fight and rallied for three runs in the last inning. Keller led off the frame with a solo homer to left. Woods doubled in Sydney Hartle (So., Keedysville, Md. / Boonsboro) and later scored on a Caitlin Oliviero (Jr., Wernersville, Pa. / Conrad Weiser) base hit to set up the final.
How It Happened (Game 2)
- Riding the momentum from the Game 1 win, LBC started out quick with a run in the first. The Phoenix eventually tied it in the third as Randalls doubled down the right field line to score Alyssa Kennard (FY, Camden, Del. / Caesar Rodney). LBC added solo runs in the fourth and fifth with two more added in the sixth. Wilson was able to get a couple of baserunners on in two of the three, but the Chargers were able to work their way out of the jam both times.
- Down to their last three outs, Wilson made the most of it in the bottom of the seventh. Samantha Rybacki (So., Mechanicsburg, Pa. / Mechanicsburg) led off with a base hit up the middle. Kiera O'Brine (Jr., Dillsburg, Pa. / Northner) added a double to left center to score Rybacki and make it 5-2. Randalls laid down a perfect bunt to third to move O'Brine to third before Keller singled to left to make it 5-3. Hartle singled down the right field line to score Randalls, and Woods tied the game with a sacrifice fly to right as Keller came home. With Rylee Piper (Jr., Newville, Pa. / Big Spring) pinch hitting, a dribbler back to the pitcher appeared to be the second out with Hartle being held on third. However the throw was wide and went to the fence to allow Hartle to score easily.
Inside The Numbers
- Five of Wilson's 11 hits in Game 2 came in the seventh inning.
- Wilson's win was its second come-from-behind walk-off win this season. The other was against Grove City during spring break. The score of that game? It too was 6-5.
- With the split, the Phoenix secured a top four seed in the United East Championship.
- Randalls had an incredible day as she went a combined 4-for-6 with two runs scored.
- O'Brine was also impressive going 5-for-8 with a run scored.
- Hartle and Randalls have both reached base safely the last 12 games.
- In a rare situation, Elena Worthington (Jr., Shippensburg, Pa. / Shippesnburg) was the pitcher of record for Wilson in both games. She started Game 1 and allowed two earned runs on six hits and three walks in 4.0 innings of work. She pulled even on the day after coming on in relief in Game 2 and pitched 1.2 perfect innings.
Up Next
Wilson will look to secure one of the top two seeds with a sweep at Cairn this weekend.
