The #10 seeded Mont Alto Softball team opened the USCAA Softball Tournament today against #8 seeded Ave Maria for a 10:00 a.m. game. Mont Alto came out ready to play but after going into extra innings, they fell 8-7.
The game stood scoreless until the third inning when Mont Alto got their bats going. Helena DeShong started it off with a double. Next up Jenna Rhodes followed in DeShong's footsteps with a double and RBI. Jami Ross kept it going with a single. Kristyan Gates also singled and brought home pinch runner for Rhodes, Sara Rebar. Sharielle Wray kept the rally going with a single which advanced Gates and Ross. Next up was Kieara Fleagle who was on top of her game today. She cracked a 2 RBI double. At the end of the 4th inning, Mont Alto was on top 4-0. Ave Maria did not get a hit until the fifth inning when they added one run to the scoreboard.
Mont Alto answered back in the sixth when Fleagle singled, stole and then scored on DeShong's single. The bottom of the seventh was trouble for Mont Alto, allowing Ave Maria to score four runs off of three hits. But Mont Alto was not ready to give up; they came out in extra innings and scored two runs to take the lead 7-5. Starting off with Ross on second, then Kaylah Younker came in to pinch run. Gates flew out and Younker advanced to third. Wray struck out looking. Next up was Fleagle who continued to be impressive with a single and Younker scored. With two outs, Alicia Morgan kept the inning alive with a single and Fleagle moved to second. Mackenzie Trafka reached first on a fielder's choice, earns the RBI for Fleagle who scored and Morgan made it to second on an error by the second baseman. Unfortunately Mont Alto didn't keep the lead for long, they allowed three runs in the bottom of the eighth, losing the game 8-7.
On the mound for Mont Alto, Kristyan Gates pitched all 7.1 innings, allowing eight hits, eight runs, five earned runs, walking one and striking out four of the 31 batters she faced.
On offense, Fleagle had one of her best games to date. She was four for four with three RBI's, scoring two runs and hitting a double. DeShong and Rhodes each had a double and a RBI. Trafka and Gates also added an RBI each.
Mont Alto will play in the consolation bracket at 6:00 p.m. on the Pony Field at Firestone Stadium.
