Hempfield Softball Responds from First Loss in Years With Win At Latrobe
Responding from a loss is not something the Hempfield softball team is accustomed to doing. After suffering its first loss in 47 games on Sunday, the Spartans were forced to do so against a tough Latrobe team.
They passed the test with flying colors, defeating the Wildcats 3-1 in a Section 2-6A showdown. The win gave Hempfield sole possession of first place with a 6-1 overall record and 5-0 mark in the section. Latrobe drops to 6-1 overall and 5-1 in the section.
Latrobe jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single by senior Becca Tatone.
Hempfield senior pitcher Maddie Uschock held Latrobe in check for the rest of the game, allowing her offense to get going.
The Spartans finally did get going in the third inning. Freshman Emma Hoffner tied the game up when she hit a grounder to third base, allowing senior Laura Fox to score. The Spartans took the lead for good latter in the inning on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Ashley Orischak.
Hempfield added an insurance run in the top of the seventh when senior Allison Podkul doubled, advanced to third on a fly ball, and scored on an infield single by Margaret Monzo.
The win was the 34th straight section win for the Spartans. Weather permitting, Hempfield will host Fox Chapel in a section game today at 4 p.m. Latrobe will travel to Penn Hills at 3:45 p.m.