Wilson Stays Alive, Upset Top-Seed Cedar Crest
Story Re-Posted Courtesy of Wilson College Athletics - Original Here
(ALLENTOWN, Pa.) – Cinderella is alive and well in the CSAC Softball Championship being played at Cedar Crest College as Wilson is sporting the glass slipper. The Phoenix started the day not knowing if they would be playing just one out of an inning against Keystone or multiple games against the rest of the field.
As it turned out they were able to eliminate the Giants as they resumed their halted game with the fourth seed. From there the Blue and White upset the top-seeded Falcons. In the final game of the day Wilson squared off with No. 2 Rosemont in the winner's bracket but was defeated.
The good news is that the Phoenix lives to see another day and will take on No. 3 St. Elizabeth on Saturday.
The Basics
Scores: Game 1 (Resumed from Wednesday): No. 5 Wilson 11, No. 4 Keystone 9 (9 innings)
Game 2: No. 5 Wilson 5, No. 1 Cedar Crest 2
Game 3: No. 5 Wilson 1, No. 2 Rosemont 4
Venue: Cynthia L. Blaschak Field
Records: No. 5 Wilson 14-22, No. 4 Keystone 10-22, No. 1 Cedar Crest 17-17, No. 2 Rosemont 20-15
How It Happened (CSAC Tournament Game 1 vs. No. 4 Keystone)
- On Wednesday, the game started out like high-scoring affair it ended up being, but the route to the final score was a strange one. Wilson started the scoring with a pair of runs brought in by Riley Henry (So., Carlisle, Pa. / Carlisle) on a ground out that allowed Addyson Stewart (Fy., Felton, Del. / Lake Forest) and Haiden Brookens (Jr., Fayetteville, Pa. / Chambersburg Magnet) to come home. After Keystone circled a run around in the second, the Phoenix got it back in the top of the third as Klarissa Miley (Fy., Spring Run, Pa. / Fannett Metal) took advantage of an infield error to score from second.
- Keystone again cut the deficit to one in the third, but once again the Phoenix were able to extend it in the top of the fourth. This time Kaesey Greene (Sr., Taneytown, Md. / Francis Scott Key) did the honors as she doubled down the left field line to bring in Alecia Hamilton (Sr., Canton, Ohio / GlenOak). However, the Giants were able to take advantage of a Phoenix error to make it 4-3 in the bottom of the frame. The score remained dormant until the bottom of the seventh when Keystone rallied to tie the game and force extra innings.
- Both teams went scoreless in the eighth, but set off fireworks in the ninth as both teams surpassed their run totals for the previous eight innings. For the Phoenix, extra base hits highlighted the frame. With the bases loaded, Stewart cleared them with a triple to right to score Miley, Greene and Hannah Lyons (Jr., Dover, Del / Dover). After Brookens reached on a fielder's choice, Alyssa Wenger (Jr., Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg) homered over the left field fence for a 10-4 lead. Henry followed up with a double down the left field line and scored on Hamilton's single up the middle one batter later.
- With the Giants trying to answer, they were able to get one in right off the bat as a double to center scored the runner placed on second. After a fly out to right, Keystone followed with two more base hits to make it 11-6. A third consecutive single brought in another run and put runners on second and third before play was stopped because of darkness.
- Once play resumed Friday, the Phoenix inched closer to the win from the gate with a pop up to short. The Giants did threaten as the next batter singled to center to score the runners from second and third and make the score 11-9, but the next batter grounded out to short to end the game.
Inside The Numbers (CSAC Tournament Game 1 vs. No 5 Keystone)
- Wilson was able to manufacture the 11 runs on just eight hits. The patience of the Phoenix batters was also critical as they took nine bases on balls in the game.
- Stewart and Hamilton both had multiple hit games for the Blue and White. Stewart was 2-for-3 with three RBI, two runs scored and a walk. Hamilton finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
- Wenger's home run was just the fourth one of the year for the Phoenix and team's first since Haley Privett (Jr., Fayetteville, Pa. / Chambersburg Magnet) went yard against St. Joseph during spring break on March 15.
- Marina Monsalve (Sr., Corona, Calif. / Centennial) recorded the win for her first victory of the season and improves to 1-4. She allowed three runs, two earned on three hits in 4.0 innings of work.
How It Happened (CSAC Tournament Game 3 vs. No. 1 Cedar Crest)
- Immediately after the conclusion of the game against Keystone, the Phoenix were tasked with taking on the top-seeded Falcons on their home field. Monsalve started the game and gave up two runs on four hits in the first inning, but otherwise was nearly flawless as she allowed six hits the rest of the way.
- Her teammates were able to pick her up as well and tied the game in the fourth. With Wenger and Privett both on, Madison Briggs (Fy., Lock Haven, Pa. / Central Mountain) doubled to left field to bring them both home. One inning later, Wenger gave the Phoenix the lead as she singled to right to score Miley.
- In the seventh, the Phoenix were able to add a pair of insurance runs. Miley scored again as Brookens singled up the middle and Stewart scored after an infield error two batters later.
- The Falcons didn't go away quietly and was able to bring the potential tying run to the plate, but Wilson was able to get out of the jam on a ground out to third to seal the upset.
Inside The Numbers (CSAC Tournament Game 3 vs. No. 1 Cedar Crest)
- Monsalve went the distance to record her second consecutive win.
- Miley finished the game 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two walks. Wenger also had a multiple hit game and was 2-for-3 with an RBI, a run scored, and a walk.
How It Happened (CSAC Tournament Game 5 vs. No. 2 Rosemont)
- As the Falcons did against the Phoenix, the Ravens also got off to a fast start and scored three runs on three hits in the first inning. The Phoenix threatened in the first three innings, but weren't able to light up the score board until the fourth. Wilson was able to load the bases and score a run as Miley singled to left to bring in Stevens. However, a ground out on the next play left the bases full.
- Wilson was able to make a charge in the sixth inning as Privett doubled to left and Briggs singled up the middle, but both were left stranded. The Ravens proceeded to add an insurance run in the bottom of the frame. One last rally for the Phoenix came in the seventh with Stewart and Wenger reaching on base hits, but they two were left on the base paths as the game ended.
Inside The Numbers (CSAC Tournament Game 5 vs. No. 2 Rosemont)
- Stewart led the offense with a 3-for-4 game while Wenger and Privett were both 2-for-4.
Up Next
Wilson will square off with third-seeded St. Elizabeth on Saturday at 12 p.m. The winner will advance to take on second-seeded Rosemont and have to defeat the Ravens twice to become CSAC champions.