By Christopher Shaban
Staff Writer
When two undefeated softball teams meet, somebody had to find out who was the best, but that wasn’t the case on Wednesday in this annual home and home series that had everything you could want. The Tigers Kelsey Wheeler was the hero in the day game as her single gave Newport a 6-5 win then the Cardinals battled back to grab an exciting come from behind win and in the nightcap with Josie Aiken getting the key hit for a Cardinal win.
Game 1: Newport 6, Stevens 5After Newport jumped out to a 2-0 lead, the Cardinals took the lead in the top of the fifth inning when Josie Aiken kicked up a cloud of dirt sliding home on a ball that got away from the Newport infield.
Gabby LaBounty raced around third base and took a headfirst slide into the dirt covered home plate as Emma O’Connor applied the tag in a close play that resulted in an out for Stevens with the Cardinals taking a 4-3 lead.
Newport answered right back with hits off the bats of Eden Ritondo, Tonya Sanchez and an RBI single by Shelby Adams. Kate Shannon’s infield single plated another run as the Tigers grabbed the lead back 5-4. With Sanchez and the Cardinals Bri Frisbee locked in a pitchers duel, the leather was also being thrown around. Newport’s Kristen Wheeler and the Cardinals Gabby Savo both made great plays from their infield positions keeping the game tight.
Slick base running by Bri Frisbee put her on third base after a steal and an RBI single from Zoey Foote tied everything up heading to the seventh inning.
“I’ve been waiting for four years for this, my senior year facing Stevens is what I’ve been dreaming about for a long time,” Wheeler said.
The Cardinals made some loud noise in their half on the inning but Newport’s defense held firm setting the stage for the exciting final at bat. Sanchez already had a home run and led off the inning lining a rope single.
Shelby Adams put down a perfect bunt to get Sanchez into scoring position and Wheeler did the rest.
“This was a huge game against our biggest rival,” said Wheeler, who ripped a single to score Sanchez as her teammates rushed the field to bury her in hugs. “I can’t believe what just happened, this is such a great feeling.”
Game 2: Stevens 7, Newport 6Newport arrived in the city full of confidence and jumped out to a huge 6-1 lead but the Cardinals found some late game magic and came back to win in dramatic fashion. Playing before the biggest crowd in years and under the lights, this was a dandy.
“Positivity was the key tonight” said Frisbee who pitched both complete games for Stevens.
Sanchez’s second home run of the Day got thing going in Newport’s favor while the Tiger lead increased to 4-1 by the end of the fourth inning. Wheeler’s huge day continued with a home run as the Tiger lead grew to 6-1 as things looked bleak for Stevens.
Kayla Maccioli began the comeback by grabbed an RBI with a single for Stevens as the Newport lead shrunk to 6-3 entering the 6th inning. Frisbee set down the Tigers in the top of the inning setting the stage for an incredible Cardinal rally. Brianna Frisbee, Savo and Gabby Labounty all worked walks that loaded the bases.
“We just didn’t give up, this team is resilient and tonight we never stopped believing in ourselves,” Foote said.
With the bases loaded with Cardinals on free passes, Foote’s infielders choice plated a run which was followed by an error. After a Bundy Walk, an Aiken single brought Maccioli in for the go ahead run as Stevens had grabbed a 7-6 lead.
There were nervous moments for the Cardinal faithful with Newport’s last at bat as the top of a potent Tiger lineup dug in. With Jenna Mahue making it to second base, Frisbee got the dangerous Sanchez out on a fly to Aiken while Shelby Adams shot was snagged by Savo to end the game securing a split for Stevens.
“We really needed this game against a very good Newport team,” said Stevens head coach Missy Nichols. “We cranked up the pitching machine this week to get ready and our patience and timely hitting was just what we needed.”
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