MEADVILLE, Pa. – Aleya Belardinelli (Melbourne, Fla./West Shore) pitched a no-hitter in game one of a twinbill against Thiel as the Allegheny softball team collected their fourth straight Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) sweep Sunday (April 14) in Meadville.
Belardinelli's no-hitter completed a large offensive output as the Gators took game one 15-0 before they overcame an early deficit in game two, winning 7-4.
Game One - Allegheny 15, Thiel 0 (5 innings)
Belardinelli was dominant in the circle, tossing the no-hitter. She struck out nine batters, including the first six of the game, with just one walk. The no-hitter was the 26th in Allegheny history and second one for the Gators this season.
The Gators plated 13 of their runs in the second inning.
Sofia Genareo (Lakewood, N.Y./Southwestern Central) and
Sophia Godzak (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon) had back-to-back singles to lead off.
Hadley Horensky (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Seton LaSalle Catholic) was walked to load the bases. Another walk to
Audrey Blarr (Clarence, N.Y./Clarence) brought Genareo home for the game's first run.
Cameron Long (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) was also walked to bring Godzak home. Belardinelli hit into an all-safe fielder's choice as the score grew to 3-0. A throwing error then allowed a pair of runs across the plate.
Olivia Devries (Kent, Ohio/Field) followed up with a two RBI double before Godzak had a RBI hit as well.
The inning continued as
Halle Book (Wexford, Pa./North Catholic) doubled and Blarr had an RBI infield single. With the bases loaded, Long hit her third home run of the season, a grand slam, over the centerfield fence to extend the lead to 13-0. That home run was the 15th of her career.
In the fourth,
Madison Hulse (San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo) led-off with a pinch hit double in her first collegiate at-bat.
Meredythe Baird (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Holy Redeemer) followed up with a RBI single. After a walk to
Jordan Williams (San Diego, Calif./Academy of Our Lady of Peace),
Julia Perillo (Fairfield, Conn./New Fairfield) had a pinch hit single to load the bases.
Samantha Dzierba (Colden, N.Y./Orchard Park) singled to extend the lead to 15-0.
Belardinelli closed out the game in the fifth. After a flyout to right and a swinging strikeout, third baseman Devries caught a popup in foul territory to close out the no-hitter.
Inside the Box
- Belardinelli tossed a one-walk, no-hitter, striking out nine. It was the 26th in program history. She moved to 8-2 on the season.
- 10 Gators tallied hits.
- Long had five RBI, including four on a grand slam.
- Devries, Hulse and Book doubled.
- Blarr and Devries each had two RBI.
Game Two - Allegheny 7, Thiel 4
The Tomcats had a pair of extra-base hits, including a home run, as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first.
Thiel would tack on one more run in the fourth to increase the lead to 4-1.
Devries got the Gators on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth as she led off with a deep shot over the left field fence. That home run was her fifth of the season and the seventh of her career.
Arianna Wilkinson (Warren, Ohio/Howland) pinch ran for Genareo after she reached off an error in the inning. After stealing second, Godzak put runners on the corners with a single.
Morgan Kinney (Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick) would pinch run for Godzak. A double steal brought Wilkinson home to cut the lead to two. Horensky followed up with an RBI double, scoring Kinney. A Blarr single put runners on the corners once more. A walk issued to Belardinelli loaded the bases for
Samantha Phillips (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon). Phillips doubled on a hard hit ball through the right side of the infield, allowing Horensky and Blarr to score, putting Allegheny in the lead, 5-4.
Genareo started the fifth with a single. After moving up on a Book sacrifice bunt, Horensky brought her home with a double down the left field line. Blarr followed up with a bloop single which allowed Horensky to score from second, taking the lead to 7-4.
The Gators kept the Tomcats off the board as Hulse earned the decision in relief.
Inside the Box
- Horensky had a pair of doubles, driving in two runs.
- Devries and Blarr had two hits and a RBI each.
- Phillips drove in two runs with a double.
- Hulse earned the win in relief. In 3.2 innings of work, she did not allow a run while striking out five.
News and Notes
- The wins improved Allegheny's record to 18-4 on the year and 9-1 in PAC play.
- The Gators are now 25-6 all-time against Thiel.
- Belardinelli tossed the 26th no-hitter in Allegheny history.
- This marked the fourth time two different Gators have thrown no-hitters in the same season, and the first time since 2003.
- Belardinelli moved into fourth all-time on the Gators' strikeout list as she reached 310 career strikeouts.
- Long hit her 15th career home run.
- Devries hit her seventh career home run.
- Hulse had her first collegiate at-bat, hitting a double.
- Baird tallied her first career hit, a RBI single.
Up Next
The Gators continue PAC play on the road Monday (April 15) at Geneva.