Andy Close
WARREN, Pa. – Hayley Dever’s seventh-inning solo home run capped a dramatic comeback for Villa Maria in a 5-4 win over Warren in their Region 5 showdown.
(Warren’s Ellee Irwin gets set to make a catch against the fence during Monday’s Region 5 showdown against Villa. Photo courtesy Jon Sitler.)
The win for Villa was the second 1-run triumph over Warren this season.
Dever’s blast capped a rally from a 4-run deficit for the Victors, that began with Caitlyn Plyler’s 2-run home run in the fourth.
The Victors tied the game in the fifth on Annabella Cipalla’s RBI double and Rylee Kregel’s run-scoring single.
The Dragons tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh, but Rylie Yeager’s lined shot to center to lead off was snared on a great diving effort from Jenna VanDee, and after a one-out walk to Kelsey Stuart, Villa pitcher Jenna Wagner got a flyout and a groundout (on a ranging play by Plyler at second) to preserve the win.
Warren scored two in the first and two in the second. Katie Madigan scored on an error and Alix Lytle ripped an RBI double in the first, and Yeager and Stuart delivered RBI doubles in the second.
Wagner allowed nine hits and three earned runs, striking out eight and issuing one walk in the win.
Stuart took the loss, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and one walk, striking out seven.
