Dialog reporter
WILMINGTON – Alexis Brooks’ two-run single in the top of the sixth inning proved to be the difference as Padua capped its softball regular-season slate Tuesday with a 5-3 victory over Charter. The Pandas improved to 12-6 and are waiting for the playoff brackets to be released to see if their season will continue this weekend.
Padua scored an insurance run in its half of the seventh inning, and the contest was two strikes from completion when it was halted by lightning and a short downpour. The field was ruled unplayable, and the final score reverted to what it had been at the end of the sixth.
Brooks’ hit came as part of a three-run sixth in which Padua overcame a 3-2 deficit and took the lead for the first time. Freshman Hannah Williams opened with a triple that bounced past the outstretched glove of the right fielder. Cam Simendinger bunted for a single off Force pitcher Katie Kalinowski as Williams stayed put at third. Courtesy runner Francesca Marinaro stole second, and the bases were loaded after a walk to Kiersten Fallers.
Abby Cunningham drove home Marinaro on a fielder’s choice groundout to shortstop. The next batter, Shannon McGee, also grounded to short, but this time the play was at home, where Marinaro was thrown out. Brooks then delivered her hit that plated Fallers and Cunningham.
Padua’s Olivia Ellis surrendered just four hits on the afternoon, with three of them coming off the bat of Kalinowski. In the first inning, the Charter junior scored Kate Massih, who had been hit by a pitch and sacrificed to second. After Padua tied the game in the second, Kalinowski struck again. Her two-out single to right scored Katie Watson, who had singled, and Erin Anderson, on base via a walk. Kalinowski added her third single in the sixth.
Brooks had three total runs batted in, and she also scored a run after leading off the fifth inning with a double. An Ellis single drove her in.
Charter finished the regular season at 9-9.
