For The Dialog
BEAR – Ursuline scored seven runs in the top of the sixth inning to stun No. 10 Red Lion, 10-8, in nonconference softball on May 10. Antonia Browning had two doubles in the inning, including the game-winner, and she prevailed on the mound.
The Lions struck first, however, scoring on a safety squeeze, followed by a two-run bomb by Noelle over the right-center field wall. They added a run in the second, as Abby Smith came home on a single by Kaylee Hazewski to make it 4-0.
The Raiders (5-6) got three back in the top of the third as Gina Hallman knocked in a run on a groundout, and Grace Nordmeyer brought in two with a two-out single. Browning just missed giving Ursuline the lead, flying out to the warning track in left.
Red Lion responded, however, with four in the bottom of the third, taking advantage of some defensive miscues by the Raiders. The lead was 8-3 heading into the sixth.
Nordmeyer led off with a single, and Browning followed with a double. The next two batters were hit by pitches, and it was 8-4. Julia Hallman knocked in two with a single, and a walk again loaded by bases. This time, Rory Kendle hit a single that scored two to tie the game at eight. Nordmeyer came to the plate again, and she was hit by a pitch to set up Browning’s game-winning double, which went off the wall in center field.
“I noticed the pitcher was throwing slow and low, so I was trying to hit it where it was pitched,” Browning said.
Back on the mound, Browning struck out two batters in the sixth, giving the Raiders a much-needed shutdown inning. Red Lion put two runners on base with no outs in the seventh, but Ursuline turned its second double play of the night as a fly ball to center was caught, and the runner on second was caught off the bag. Browning retired the last batter on her eighth strikeout of the game.
Ursuline coach Beth Weaver said she was confident her team could come back but hoped her young players believed in themselves.
“I have total confidence in this team, and today I know they believe in themselves,” Weaver said.
The Raiders’ rough week continues as they host Wilmington Christian on Thursday at 3:45 p.m. Red Lion (6-5) hosts Middletown on Thursday night at 7.
