Brian Hagberg
ERIE, Pa. – Warren broke open a tie game with five runs in each of the sixth and seventh innings to come away with a 12-3 win at Erie Friday.
The game was tied at 2-2 heading to the sixth. The Dragons bats went to work in the inning as they scored five runs on four hits, including three doubles, and a pair of walks to grab a 7-2 lead.
Halle Kuzminski drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on Carly Beers’ bunt single. They stole third and second, then, with one out, scored on consecutive passed balls to give Warren its first lead of the game, 4-2.
Halee Mineweaser followed with a double and moved to third on Katie Madigan’s ground out. Rylie Yeager walked before Kelsey Stuart and Alix Lytle hit back-to-back RBI doubles to push the lead to 7-2.
Erie got one run back in the bottom of the inning. Paige Sharpe hit a 1-out double and scored on Angelina Conners’ single.
Lexi Hoffman got that run right back for the Dragons with a solo home run to lead off the seventh. Beers walked and Elee Irwin singled to put runners on first and second.
One out later, both players stole their way around the bases to increase Warren’s lead to 9-3.
Yeager drew a 2-out walk and scored on a passed ball before Stuart doubled to left. Stuart came home on a passed ball for the final run of the game.
Erie scored twice in the bottom of the first. Kassie Plyler led off with a bunt single and scored on Sharpe’s triple. Sharpe came home when Conners grounded out.
Warren tied it in the third. Mineweaser drew a lead off walk and moved to second on Madigan’s sac bunt. With two outs, Stuart drove the first pitch she saw to left for an RBI double. Lytle worked the count full before she tripled to left to score Stuart and tie the game at 2-2.
Stuart finished the game 3-5 at the plate with three doubles, three runs scored and a pair of RBIs. She also went the distance on the mound, giving up three earned runs on five hits with 13 strikeouts.
Lytle tripled and doubled, and Mineweaser finished with a pair of hits as well.
Sharpe and Plyler each had two hits for the Royals. Sharpe scored twice and drove in a run, while Conners had two RBIs.
The Dragons are back in action Saturday when they travel to DuBois. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.
