Andy Close
RUSSELL, Pa. – Eisenhower scored three runs in the third inning to take the lead in what was ultimately a 13-5 win over county rival Youngsville.
Youngsville led 5-3 going to the bottom of the third, but RBIs from Taylor Napolitan, Abi Grunden, and Tracey Jakubczak gave Eisenhower a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
“We worked hard, kept our foot on the gas, and kept our foot on the gas the whole way,” said Eisenhower coach Rich Pascuzzi. “I know the girls have it in them. Last week against Cochranton we kind of died from a bunch of errors and today we cleaned that up. I knew they could do it. It’s finally a nice day and we were able to bring it all together and get a win out of it.”
The Lady Knights struck for two more runs in the fifth on an RBI single from Napolitan, with an error allowing another run to cross the plate.
EHS scored five runs in the sixth to put the game out of reach, as Jackubczak came up with another big hit to plate a pair of runs, with Cali Chapman and Lillian Smyth also collecting hits in the inning.
Kailee Morrison, Payton Frank, and Julia Gesing also did a great job setting the table at the top of the EHS lineup, each collecting hits, with Geising belting a double and scoring three runs.
“Last year, we would get a couple hits, get runners on base but leave them on,” noted Pascuzzi. “We’re really focusing on base-stealing and using the batter to our advantage and I think they really did well with that tonight.”
Napolitan got the win, striking out six.
Napolitan talked about the win afterward:
“She did well,” Pascuzzi said. “She was hitting her zones and she was delivering the whole game. There was no lag. I think this season, her senior year, is going to be a phenomenal one for her.”
Kam Swearingen had an RBI single to get Youngsville back within one, 3-2 in the second. The Lady Eagles took a 5-3 lead in the third, as Olivia Goss and Madison Carnahan both had RBI groundouts. Sam Willhelm also had a single in the inning.
The freshman Swearingen was in the circle, and despite the final score, pitched well, striking out 10 in her seven innings of work.
