(Atlantic) Atlantic broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the fourth inning, with six runs on six hits, which proved to be the difference in the Trojans 8-3 win over Dowling, Catholic at Atlantic on Friday.
The Trojans scored 8 runs on nine hits. Dowling scored three runs on seven hits.
Jillian Saathoff and Dylin Ball paced the Atlantic offense. Saathoff collected a double and a single while scoring a run. Ball singled, blasted a two-run double, and crossed the plate twice. Lila Wiederstein added an RBI double, while Makenna Schroeder delivered an RBI double and executed two key sacrifice bunts, including one that drove in a run. London Kirchhoff contributed an RBI single, Kinsley Johnson added an RBI single, and Zoey Kirchhoff and Claire Schroder each singled in the victory. Brynn Lamp picked up the win in the circle for the Trojans with six innings of work. Peyton McLaren pitched the save.
Abby Johnson led the Dowling Catholic offense with an inside-the-park home run. Frankie Kielty added an RBI single that drove in two runs and advanced to second on the throw, while Lively Hanawalt and Madison Nagel each scored on the play.
Atlantic wasted little time taking control. In the bottom of the first inning, with two outs, L. Kirchhoff lined a single into center that brought L. Wiederstein home for the game’s first run. Kirchhoff was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double, but Atlantic had grabbed a 1-0 lead.
The Trojans added to their advantage in the third. Dylin Ball crossed the plate when Makenna Schroeder lined a single to left field. Schroeder took second on the throw, extending Atlantic’s lead to 2-0.
Dowling Catholic answered in the top of the fourth. Frankie Kielty delivered a line-drive single to center, driving in Lively Hanawalt and Madison Nagel. Kielty advanced to second on the throw, and the Maroons knotted the score at 2-2.
Atlantic immediately responded with its biggest inning of the game. Kinsley Johnson started the rally with a ground-ball single to left, scoring Jillian Saathoff while Peyton McLaren moved to third and Claire Schroder to second. Ball followed with a line-drive double to right, scoring both McLaren and Schroder as Johnson advanced to third. Lila Wiederstein then doubled to right, driving in Johnson while Ball held at third. Makenna Schroeder laid down a sacrifice bunt, allowing Ball to score as Wiederstein moved to third, though Schroeder was retired at first. With two outs, L.ondon Kirchhoff capped the inning with a sacrifice fly to right, bringing home Wiederstein and giving Atlantic an 8-2 lead.
Dowling Catholic got one run back in the fifth when Abby Johnson hit an inside-the-park home run on a line drive to center field, cutting the deficit to 8-3.
Atlantic’s explosive fourth inning proved to be the difference as the Trojans held on for an 8-3 victory.
