NORTH ALLEGHENY CLINCHES PLAYOFF BERTH WITH WIN OVER NORWIN

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In a Section 2-6A showdown, the North Allegheny softball team locked up a playoff berth with a 7-4 win over the Norwin Knights on Wednesday night. The Tigers overcame an early 3-0 deficit with a 13-hit attack that saw all nine batters reach base and six different players score runs.

The visiting Knights wasted little time in taking the early advantage with a three-run top of the first inning. With the help of an NA error, Norwin loaded the bases for Bailee Bertani, who delivered an RBI single for a 1-0 lead. Alexandra Brentzel followed with a two-run single to increase the lead to 3-0, Norwin.

North Allegheny responded immediately in the bottom of the first inning and loaded the bases for freshman Alaina Whipkey, who promptly came through with an RBI single to trim the Norwin lead to 3-1. Senior Regan Brodine knotted the score at 3-3 with a two-run single. Sophomores Chloe Szczepaniak and Lauren Haywood followed with back-to-back RBI singles to put NA on top, 5-3.

The Tigers continued the hit parade in the third inning and chased Norwin starter Angelina Pepe after Haywood belted a two-run double to balloon the NA lead to 7-3.

After Norwin’s initial three-run surge in the first inning, North Allegheny starting pitcher Ashley Adams shut down the Knights the rest of the way and did not allow a run until the final inning when Carly Cook plated a run with a two-out RBI single. By then, it was too little, too late for Norwin as Adams induced a groundout of Victoria Shimko to close out a 7-4 victory.  

Adams went the distance to her eighth win in the pitcher’s circle with two strikeouts and no walks.

Helping pace the NA offense was senior Rachel Martindale with a 3 for 4 performance. Two-hit efforts were added by Szczepaniak and Whipkey.

Playoff-bound North Allegheny improves to 11-3 overall and 9-2 in Section 2-6A. Norwin slips to 8-4 overall and 7-3 in the section.