Pirates Down the Aviators 14-5
Alliance, OH - The Southeast Pirates made the trek to Alliance for a non-conference matchup with the Alliance Aviators on a chilly Wednesday afternoon. The Pirates came off the bus swinging, opening the game with 4 runs in the top of the 1st inning. It was Morgan Muncy getting on by way of an error. Lylia Lavigna followed with a single up the middle, advancing Muncy to third. Following a Lavigna steal of 2nd, Neena Truex sent a rocket to left center field for a double, plating both base runners to start the scoring.
Following a Beth Mowery walk, Natalie Campbell laid down a bunt that Truex came home after a delay, awaiting the throw to first. Mowery scampered to 3rd as the Aviators tried to cut Truex down at home following the putout at 1st. Miranda Timko wrapped up the opening frame, scoring when she sent a looping liner to right field, allowing Mowery to make her way home.
The Pirates tacked on one more in the top of the 2nd as it was Kirstin Harvey doubling to center after a Leah Mesaros lead-off walk. With runners on 2nd and 3rd, Muncy grounded into a fielder’s choice to 3rd.
The Aviators would load the bases in the bottom of the 3rd with no outs on their way to plating 5 in the home half of the 3rd, knotting the contest at 5 as they headed to the 4th inning.
After seeing their 5-run lead evaporate in the matter of a half inning, the Pirates came back to the plate in the top of the 4th looking to regain their advantage on the scoreboard. Following a Mesaros lead-off reach on error and a Harvey walk, Morgan Muncy roped a 2 RBI double to left center. Lavigna followed with an RBI double in nearly the same location of the field. All of a sudden, the Pirates had built an 8-5 lead before the Aviators were able to get an out.
A Neena Truex single on a bunt led to another run as Lavigna took advantage of an Aviator mishap and made her way home, and Truex advanced to 2nd. Beth Mowery followed with a bunt single of her own to put runners on the corners. Mowery advanced to 2nd on a stolen base to put two runners in scoring position for Campbell, who worked a walk to load the bases, still with no outs. Following a pitching change by the Aviators, there was a passed ball that advanced all 3 runners up, scoring a run. Miranda Timko would hit an infield single, beating the throw to first as Mowery scored and Campbell advanced to 3rd.
Liv Bragg would reach on an error to reload the bases for the pirates, still with no one out and an 11-5 Pirate advantage. Another passed ball brought Campbell home and Timko to third. The next pitch saw Bragg take 2nd on defensive indifference. Bragg would ground out to 2nd, but Timko would come home on the play to make it 13-5.
The next batter, Kirstin Harvey, sent a high fly ball to shallow center field. As the center fielder and shortstop converged on the pop fly, they collided, and the ball fell to the ground. Harvey made it to second as Bragg made her way home. Unfortunately, the center fielder took the worst of the collision and had to be removed from the game. The Aviators did not have an available player to sub into the game, and the game ended with the score 14-5 Southeast. The Pirates (10-4) return to action tomorrow when they travel to Canton Central Catholic to take on the Crusaders.
