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GIRLS SOFTBALL: Falls drops 3-0 lead, loses to GI
GRAND ISLAND — Entering Friday’s game at Grand Island, the Niagara Falls softball team had four losses this season decided by one run. Despite holding a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, the Wolverines unfortunately made it one-run loss No. 5, falling by a score of 4-3.
Falls (2-5) pitcher Holly Conte pitched a gem through the first six innings, allowing just three hits and no runs to cross the plate. She was also aided by stellar play in the field, most notably from second baseman Trina Ciccarelli and right fielder Jocelyn Grace.
Conte found herself in a jam in the seventh, though, giving up consecutive singles to the Vikings’ Jordan Dudish and Ashley McRae to start the inning. After settling down to retire the next Grand Island (5-2) hitter, a fielder’s choice loaded the bases.
“We went into the seventh with the mentality that we knew we could get back into the game,” Grand Island coach Pat Lester said. “I never lost faith in the girls.”
Nor should he have, with Kaileen Shoemaker walking to bring in one run, followed by a Katie Boutet RBI single that cut the Falls lead to 3-2. Conte then induced a lineout off the bat of opposing pitcher Emily Thompson, making it two outs with the bases loaded.
That’s when Kasey Sumner ripped a two-run single to left field, scoring Krystin Hoppel and Shoemaker, to complete the comeback.
“They did what they had to do in the seventh,” Falls coach Beth Bullock said of the Vikings’ late surge. “But it’s five times now that we’ve lost by one run, so it’s extremely frustrating.”
On the offensive end for the Wolverines, Dominique Mantell went 3 for 4 on the day, including a two-run homer deep to right field in the top of the seventh. Grace doubled earlier in the inning and was plated on the long ball. Mantell also scored the first run of the game on a passed ball in the opening inning. Nikki Kraft added two base hits in the game.
Grand Island’s Thompson was stellar in the circle, going the distance and striking out seven. She managed to weather the Mantell storm to limit the damage and make it possible for the Vikings to make the late push.
“Emily’s our rock out there. Other pitchers would be rattled by a seventh inning like that, but she wasn’t taken off her game,” Lester added.
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