Appo holds off Auks’ quest for softball upset

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For The Dialog

 

CLAYMONT – Archmere hosted Appoquinimink on April 30, and the Auks fell just short of upsetting the state’s fourth-ranked softball team. The Jaguars escaped with a 3-2 win.

The Auks had lost three in a row coming into the game, and Caravel had defeated top-ranked Caravel earlier in the week. Appo struck first as Rachel Durham reached on an error and scored on a two-out hit by Haley Jones in the top of the second. Brooke Miller added a solo home run with two outs in the third to double the lead.

softballJaguars pitcher MacKenzie Short was dealing, as she was perfect through three innings. Kayla Murray got Archmere’s first hit with two outs in the fourth. Mady McDougal singled, advancing Murray to third, but on an attempted steal, McDougal was caught heading to second before Murray could cross the plate.

The Auks received good defense all game long to keep them in it. The Jaguars, however, added an insurance run in the seventh as Andrea Johnson lead off with her second single of the game, and she stole second. Jordan Scout singled her home with two outs.

Archmere would not go down without a fight. Murray doubled home Sophie Friedman, who had walked to open the seventh. McDougal followed with an RBI single down the third-base line to cut it to 3-2 with nobody out. Appoquinimink brought Karina Atanacio in and she recorded the final three outs for the save.

The Auks (5-7) had four hits, two each by Murray and McDougal. They play on Tuesday at Newark Charter at 3:45 p.m. Short had 10 strikeouts for the Jaguars (9-1) and picked up her seventh win. Appo travels to A.I. duPont on Tuesday for a 3:45 p.m. start.