Dialog reporter
BRANDYWINE HUNDRED – Antonia Browning was dominant on the mound, and Ursuline’s offense broke out the whooping sticks as the Raiders picked up a 12-0, five-inning victory at Brandywine on April 14. The win was the Raiders’ first this season after three defeats, two of those by a single run.
Browning was basically untouchable, giving up one hit in a complete-game effort. She seemed to get stronger as the game progressed. The only hit Browning surrendered was to the first batter she faced, Aleigha Miller, who dropped a ball just over the head of the second baseman.
Miller’s hit was followed by a walk, putting runners on first and second with no outs. That was not a problem for Browning, who is only a sophomore. She proceeded to strike out the next three hitters, ending the threat. That was as close as Brandywine would come to scoring a run.
The Raiders, who had scored just two runs in their first three games, tripled that output in the second inning. They loaded the bases on two walks and an error, and Julia Hallman brought Grace Nordmeyer home with a single to left. An error on the shortstop allowed a run to score and the bases remained loaded. Browning brought two runners home with a single to left.
Rory Kendle worked a walk to re-load the bases, and another walk, this one to Gina Hallman, scored Caroline Taylor. After Brandywine recorded the second out on a strikeout, Nordmeyer walked for the second time in the inning, plating Browning for the sixth run.
That was more than enough for the Raiders, but they continued with the offensive push in the third. With the bases loaded and two outs, Gina Hallman drilled a two-run single to right field. Kendle stole home as the second half of a double steal, and Nordmeyer brought Hallman home with a pop single to left.
Ursuline finished with two more runs in the fifth. Loading the bases once again, Richman knocked in one with a single to left, and Nordmeyer earned a run batted in when she was hit by a pitch.
Nordmeyer was on base all four times she came to the plate with a single, two walks and a hit by pitch. She drove in two runs and scored one. Julia Hallman and Richman each had two hits and a run batted in, and Hallman scored twice.
The Raiders play eight of their next 10 games at home at the Midway Sports Complex, beginning Monday at 3:45 p.m. against St. Elizabeth. Brandywine fell to 0-5 and will try to reverse its fortunes on Saturday vs. St. Elizabeth at 11 a.m. at Canby Park.
