MEADVILLE, Pa. – The Allegheny softball team split their Senior Day doubleheader against Geneva Saturday (April 12).
The Gators won game one 3-1 before falling 4-3 in the nightcap.
In between games, the Gators honored their seven senior members:
Halle Book (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Catholic),
Cameron Long (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian),
Audrey Blarr (Clarence, N.Y./Clarence),
Samantha Dzierba (Colden, N.Y./Orchard Park),
Aleya Belardinelli (Melbourne, Fla./West Shore),
Sofia Genareo (Lakewood, N.Y./Southwestern Central) and
Olivia Devries (Kent, Ohio/Field).
Game One - Allegheny 3, Geneva 1
The game remained scoreless until the third. Book celebrated senior day by hitting her first career home run off of the scoreboard in right center. The Gators loaded the bases later in the inning as a sacrifice fly by Genareo brought
Samantha Phillips (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) home as the lead grew to 2-0.
The Golden Tornadoes made up a run in the top of the fourth, scoring on a sacrifice fly.
In the sixth, Genareo led-off the inning by reaching second on an error.
Catherine Burkett (Harborcreek, Pa./Harbor Creek) pinch ran for her and reached third on a Blarr single.
Julia Perillo (New Fairfield, Conn./New Fairfield) would bring Burkett home on a single through the left side as the lead reached 3-1.
Belardinelli continued to pitch well into the seventh as a 1-2-3 inning sealed the game one win.
Inside the Box
- Book hit a solo home run.
- Belardinelli earned the win, allowing just one earned run on five hits while striking out 10.
- Perillo had a RBI single.
- Genareo drove in a run on a sacrifice fly.
- Phillips, Blarr and Devries also had a hit each.
Game Two - Geneva 4, Allegheny 3
Geneva struck first in game two, plating three runs on three hits in the second. They added a fourth run in the third.
The Gators made up a run in the bottom of the third. Book had an infield single and reached second on an error. Phillips then drove her in on a single to right center, cutting the deficit to three.
In the fifth, a second Gator senior drove the ball out of the park as Long hit a solo shot to right field, her first of the season.
Devries had a one out single in the sixth. After Burkett entered as a pinch runner, she took second on a wild pitch and third on a flyout. A second wild pitch then allowed Burkett to advance home as the Gators pulled within a run 4-3.
Geneva threatened in the sixth with two runners on, but
Alaina Sharp (Lewistown, Pa./Mifflin County) helped turn a double play after catching a line drive to get the Gators out of the inning.
Sharp then started the seventh with a single and moved up on a Long Sacrifice bunt. However, she was left on base as Geneva held on for the split.
Inside the Box
- Madison Hulse (San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo) pitched five innings of relief without allowing a run.
- Long hit a solo home run.
- Phillips had a RBI single.
- Belardinelli, Devries, Blarr, Sharp and Book all recorded hits.
News and Notes
- Allegheny is now 15-9 all-time against Geneva.
- Book hit her first career home run.
- Long hit her 16th career home run.
Up Next
The Gators are back in action Sunday (April 13) at Thiel.
