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St. Marys second baseman Jayla Cox, left, covers first base as Parkersburg’s Addi Cameron (25) legs out a bunt single. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)
ST. MARYS – As the cleanup hitter in the batting order for St. Marys softball, Alyssa Winland does not project an imposing figure one might typically find at the upper levels.
But what she did with the bat made a resounding impact as she delivered a two-run single in consecutive innings to rally the Blue Devils past Parkersburg 7-5 in eight innings, Thursday night at the Worthington complex in Parkersburg.
“I like the fact I can put the ball where I want,” Winland said. “Tonight I tried hitting the ball to the right side so the runs would score.”
Parkersburg (2-11) scored five times off St. Marys starter Autumn Mossor in the second inning before St. Marys turned to its ace Cali Masters. In five innings of work, the senior southpaw allowed just one ball in play – a sacrifice bunt. All 15 outs recorded by Masters occurred via the strikeout.
St. Marys coach Lacy Riggs mentioned Masters experienced minor back pain earlier in the week and wanted to save her star pitcher as much as possible for Friday’s Little Kanawha Conference championship game against Wahama in Glenville.
Parkersburg pitcher Camella Cooper looks in at home plate during her relief outing against St. Marys, Thursday at Worthington complex in Parkersburg. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)
“I was constantly communicating with Cali because she had a little bit of back trouble early in the week,” Riggs said. “We have been monitoring that, but she says she feels good.”
The Blue Devils (21-4) extended their winning streak to 10 straight. They have lost only one game since April 5.
“Tonight, the girls really showed a lot of heart to come back in the top of the seventh inning – they didn’t give up,” Riggs continued. “Alyssa was put in some high-pressure situations. I think she did better under pressure than she did earlier in the game. She buckled down and got things done.
“Hopefully we can feed off this momentum (for Friday). We don’t want to start off like we did tonight. I’m hoping we come out just like we ended tonight.”
Turns out, Masters nearly pitched a regulation game. Winland kept that from happening. Her first two-run single ignited the comeback and occurred with one out and runners on second and third in the seventh inning.
St. Marys starting pitcher Autumn Mossor delivers a pitch against Parkersburg during Thursday’s game against Parkersburg at Worthington complex in Parkersburg (Photo by Kerry Patrick)
RBI singles from Mossor and Landry Riggs tied the game at 5-5, and after Masters escaped a two-on, two-out situation in the home half of the seventh inning, Winland stepped up to the plate with the same scenario in the eighth inning – runners on second and third, and one out. Winland poked an offering from Parkersburg reliever Camella Cooper the opposite way into right field to bring home Bullman and Masters.
Parkersburg went down quickly in its final at bat as Masters struck out the side for the fifth time in five innings. On the final out, the PHS batter went down looking – the sixth Big Red to do so against Masters.
“There were some pitches I didn’t get, but it’s only one pitch – I just had to work closer to the inside of the plate,” Masters said.
Masters scored in each of the final innings. St. Marys had traffic on the basepaths throughout and finished the game stranding 12 runners on base.
“I’m glad we could pull together there late – we had been struggling all game,” Masters said. “I’m glad to see we finally came around and we were able to hit their pitcher.”
Parkersburg softball player Shelby Mercer, middle, is escorted by her parents Stacie and Steve Mercer as part of Senior Night recognition Thursday at the Worthington complex in Parkersburg. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)
One of three walks kept the fifth inning alive and loaded the bases for PHS.
“I was very proud of the girls,” PHS Erica Cameron said on an evening recognizing the three Big Red seniors on the roster (Sydney Davis, Shelby Mercer and Avery Barton). “I appreciate the grit we showed. We didn’t give up. We have to be able to hit the ball a little bit better and string some hits together. It was a fun game – that’s why you come out here, to have competitive games. We continue to grow and grow.
“We are a young team. Both pitchers who went out tonight (Addi Cameron and Cooper) are both freshmen. We are going through growing pains and we need to figure out how to work those two in together.”
St. Marys took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Ella Bullman, who finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored, led off with a base hit then came around to touch home plate on Brylee McGrady’s single into center field.
Despite walking two PHS batters in the bottom half of the frame, Mossor managed to keep PHS off the scoreboard. The second inning was quite a different story as the Big Reds strung together five straight one-out singles. Danica Hoffman drove in the first run, and two batters later Gabby Dennis singled home two more runs. Krista Durkin capped off the five-run outburst with a sacrifice fly.
Parkersburg softball player Avery Barton, middle, is joined by her parents Michael and Alexis Barton as part of Senior Night recognition Thursday at the Worthington complex in Parkersburg. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)
Mossor posted a zero in the third inning then was lifted for Masters.
“You got to see the best to be the best, right?” coach Cameron said. “(Seeing Masters) gives our girls something they need to be looking for. We have a few girls who are in a slump and it’s difficult when you have games on consecutive days. It’s hard to get out of a slump. You need to get in the cage and work to correct things.”
PHS will get a break in the schedule next week to address a few areas. When the new week begins, the Big Reds play St. Marys Monday on the road.
“Revenge on Monday,” coach Cameron said.
Contact Kerry Patrick at [email protected]
Parkersburg softball player Sydney Davis, middle, is joined by her parents Jeff and Sarah Davis as part of Senior Night recognition Thursday at the Worthington complex in Parkersburg. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)
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