Knoch erupts late in 11-6 softball win
ADAMS TWP — Through four innings of Wednesday’s softball game against Mars, Knoch had stranded six baserunners, including five in scoring position.
The missed opportunities had the Knights mired in a 2-2 tie with the Planets, but they made up for it late in the contest.
Erupting for nine runs on nine hits over the last three innings, the Knights tasted victory for the first time this season with an 11-6 win at Centennial Field.
Knoch (1-2) had dropped decisions to Hampton and Armstrong by a combined score of 21-6 to begin the campaign.
“We needed this,” said Knoch coach Chris Gardner. “We struggled with errors and leaving runners on base in our first two games. Today, we got the bunts down and with our baserunning, we put a lot of pressure on Mars.”
The Knights took a brief 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth when Sylvia Luffy’s double with two outs plated Marlee Fraser. The Planets, however, pulled even for the second time in the game thanks to Laura Craska’s double followed by Stephanie Esswein’s base hit in the bottom of the inning.
But Knoch’s onslaught began in earnest in the top of the sixth. Against eventual losing pitcher Gabby Rapport, five of the Knights’ first six batters reached base, including RBI-singles from Lindsey Wise, Lizzie Danik and Fraser.
Fraser sacrificed herself in a rundown between first and second base, allowing Carissa Tekely to score and make it 7-3.
Rapport had escaped jams unscathed in the second and fourth innings. She allowed just two unearned runs in the first after the Knights had loaded the bases with no outs.
“She pitched pretty well through five innings, but we need to tighten up the defense behind her,” said Mars coach Mike Bell. “We had five errors today and that didn’t help.”
“When we can get up on a team, we can really pounce on them, but when we get down, it often goes the other way.”
Mars trimmed its deficit to 7-5 in the bottom of the sixth. Back-to-back singles to begin the inning from Rapport and Allie Walukiewicz led to a pair of runs, but the Knights were back at it again in the seventh, adding four insurance tallies.
Brynne Smith singled in one of the runs and Fraser’s base hit drove in another.
Kaila Purcell earned the pitching win for Knoch, striking out four and walking one in 5+ innings pitched.
“She’s only a freshman, but works under control and hits her spots,” Gardner said of Purcell.
Fraser entered the game in the fifth inning with no outs. The two runs Mars scored in that inning were charged to Purcell. The former struck out four over the final three innings and was charged with Mars’ tally in the bottom of the seventh.
Smith was 4-for-4 while hitting in the ninth spot in Knoch’s batting order. She had managed just one hit in two games and four scrimmages before Wednesday’s game.
“I was not making good contact at all before today and it feels good to come out and play well,” said Smith, a senior. “I usually bat fifth or sixth in the lineup and I’m hoping to get back there.”
Mars (1-4) totaled 11 hits, led by three singles from Abby Robinson.
“We have three freshmen in our lineup (Tessa Simoni, Callie Simoni and Walukiewicz),” Bell said. “We have a bright future.”
Knoch 200 014 4 — 11 13 2
Mars 011 012 1 — 6 11 5
W: Kaila Purcell 5+IP (4K, 1BB). L: Gabby Rapport 7IP (5K, 3BB)
Knoch (1-2): Lindsey Wise 1B 3R RBI, Lizzie Danik 1B R RBI, Marlee Fraser 2-1B 2B R 3RBI, Sylvia Luffy 2B RBI, Brynne Smith 4-1B 2R RBI
Mars (1-4): Laura Craska 1B 2B 2R, Stephanie Esswein 2-1B RBI, Abby Robinson 3-1B 2R, Gabby Rapport 2-1B R RBI, Allie Walukiewicz 2-1B R
Thursday: Mars at Franklin Regional; Kiski Area at Knoch
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