For The Dialog
CLAYMONT – Kayla Murray came through with a big hit in the bottom of the 10th inning to lead Archmere to a 7-6 softball win over St. Elizabeth on March 30. Murray was at bat with runners on second and third with one out and the Auks trailing, 6-5. She ripped a double over the left fielder to send the fans home happy.
“It was a make-it-happen moment, and I made it happen,” Murray said.
The Vikings got on the board early as Leighton Trimarco singled, stole second and moved up on a wild pitch. She scored on a safety squeeze by Claudia Roncone, who eventually reached third with on one uot. Roncone scored on a groundout by Jaclyn Garyantes.
Archmere got one back in the bottom of the first on a single by Jocelyn Phillips, who stole second and reached third on a passed ball. Sophie Friedman laid down a safety squeeze to bring Phillips home.
The pitchers settled in, but St. Elizabeth added two in the top of the fourth. Olivia Donahue led off with a double, and the Vikings took advantage of a couple of errors to take a 4-1 lead. Archmere tied the game in the bottom of the sixth as Murray drove in two with a single and later scored on a single by Mady McDougal.
Neither team was able to score until the 10th, Opening the inning with a runner on second, the Vikings’ Donahue drove her in, then scored on a single by Julia Casson. That set up the bottom of the inning. The Auks’ courtesy runner scored on another safety squeeze by Friedman, setting the stage for Murray’s heroics.
Archmere is 1-1 and hosts Newark Charter on Tuesday at 3:45 p.m. St. Elizabeth (0-2) welcomes St. Thomas More, also on Tuesday at 3:45 p.m.
