Lady Leopards Furious Rally Falls Just Short on Senior Night 10-9 – Softball
Lake 10, Louisville 9
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The Louisville Leopards Varsity Softball Team mounted a furious rally before falling to the visiting Lake Blue Streaks 10-9 on Senior Night Friday Evening at West Main Vet Clinic Field. With the loss, Louisville drops to 19-4 on the season.
Benson Hits 10th Homer of the Season
Matti Benson recorded the Lady Leopards first two hits of the contest. She doubled to left in the bottom of the first and followed that up with a round-tripper in her second at-bat. The solo shot cleared the left field fence and bounced off the roof of multiple cars in the parking lot. The home run was her 10th of the season as she joins Grace Jackson (2015 and 2016) as only the second Louisville player to hit 10 or more homers in a season twice.
Lake wanted no part of the Big Ten bound Benson after that. She walked with the bases loaded in the fifth and was intentionally walked in her two final plate appearances.
Blue Streaks Build 8-1 Lead
Twenty-six runs were scored between these two teams the first time they met over in Uniontown. The Blue Streaks offense appeared to pick right up where they left off during their 16-10 loss to the Leopards on April 16.
After two quick outs to start the game, Lake still managed to produce three runs in the opening frame. Makenna Miller tripled home Bella Barr to get the Blue Streaks on the board. Tessa Dutton followed with a 2-run homer to left field to put Lake ahead 3-0.
Barr would later double in Aubrey Eisele from first to increase the Lady Streaks lead to 4-0 in the third inning.
Lake doubled their run total by adding a 4-spot in the fifth inning. Olivia Draher smacked a 2-run single to center that plated Eisele and Barr. Two batters later, Courtney Kohli followed suit with a 2-run single to center that scored Lexi Pachan and Draher. That put the Blue Streaks in firm command up 8-1.
Leopards Answer Back in the 5th
Louisville started its comeback in the bottom of the fifth inning by adding on three runs. Brooke Haren beat out a throw from short to lead off the frame. Olivia Mongiardo followed with a single and then Katelyn Miller was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Benson came to the plate next, worked the count full, and then drew a bases loaded walk that scored Haren from third. Two pitches later, Bailee Griffith was hit by a pitch allowing Mongiardo to walk to the plate as well. Addy Campbell next fouled off four pitches before hitting a sacrifice fly to left field. Miller tagged and scored for the Lady Leopards to cut the deficit to 8-4.
However, Louisville’s fifth run rally would be cut short by a double play in the next at-bat. Anna Sirohman hit a line drive that was caught by Miller at second and flipped to first to double up Kaitlin Twinem at first.
Lake Tacks on Insurance Runs in 6th
The Lady Streaks added two more runs in the top of the sixth. Olivia Brown led off the inning with a bunt single and then later came home on Miller’s sacrifice fly to left field. Eisele then came home via a passed ball to put Lake comfortably in front 10-4.
Louisville Scores 5 in the Last of the 7th
Neither team scored again until the final inning. Benson was intentionally walked to start the Lady Leopard seventh and Griffith also got aboard via an error. After a strikeout, Sirohman singled to load the bases.
Kenzi Denzer was hit by a pitch two pitches later that allowed Benson to score from third. Leah Claugus followed and smashed a 2-run line drive single to left field bringing home Griffith and Sirohman to shrink the deficit to 10-7.
Haren was hit by the next pitch to reload the bases still with only one out. Mongiardo then drew a 5-pitch walk scoring Denzer to make it 10-8.
Miller singled to left field on the first pitch of her at bat allowing Claugus to score easily. Haren was also waived home on the play looking to score the game-tying run. However, Eisele’s throw from left field was caught by the catcher Dutton in front of home plate. She was able to apply the tag before Haren could slide across the plate leaving the Blue Streaks in front 10-9.
Griffith grounded out to second base on the next pitch and Lake escaped.
Blue Steaks Out-Hit Leopards 10-8
The Blue Streaks out-hit the Leopards 10-8 for the game. Benson and Claugus both finished with multi-hit games to lead Louisville.
Lake was led by Draher and Brown who registered two hits each. The Lady Streaks improve to 7-6 on the season with the win.
Louisville Vs. Lake Softball History
The series between the Leopards and Blue Streaks is an even 6-6 in their last 12 meetings. Louisville had taken the previous two matchups and Lake had won 3 straight before that.
The Lady Leopards are 23-35 against the Blue Streaks all-time, which includes a 9-17 record when playing at Louisville.
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UP NEXT: The #3 seed Lady Leopards will next host the winner of #23 Nordonia and #29 Kent Roosevelt in the DI Mentor Sectional Finals on Wednesday, May 8. Game time is slated for 5:00 PM from West Main Vet Clinic Field.
Cover Photo By The Louisville Herald
Lake at Louisville Softball Box Score
BLUE STREAKS 10, LEOPARDS 9
Records: Louisville 19-4, Lake 7-6
