BOMBS AWAY: Wolverines Blast 3 Homers In Slugfest Victory Over Mohawk

The wind was blowing out at Mohawk High School Tuesday afternoon as the Ellwood City girls softball team blasted three home runs in its 22-10 slugfest victory over Mohawk.

Maria Ioanilli hit two home runs, part of her three-hit performance, and knocked in six runs to lead the Wolverine offense that responded to its early deficit with 14 runs in the last four inning.

The host Warriors held leads after the first inning (3-2) and after the third inning (7-5) before Ellwood City called in the long ball.

The Wolverines took the lead for good in the fourth inning as they scored three runs with a double and back-to-back home runs. Aliya Garroway led off with a line shot double off the wall in left field and scored quickly as Ioanilli blasted an opposite field homer over the right field wall. Not to be outdone, Kyla Servick then launched a bomb over the wall in left center.

Freshman pitcher Julia Nardone then slammed the door in the bottom half as she retired Mohawk with a pop up and two groundouts as Ellwood settled in with a 8-7 lead after the fourth inning.

Ellwood City poured in five runs a piece in the fifth and sixth innings.

In the fifth inning Mollie Street drove in Nardone and Garroway with a double down the third base line and, in the sixth inning, Julia Nardone then helped herself by driving in both Garroway and Ioanilli with a single to right.

Ioanilli capped the offensive surge with her second bomb of the afternoon, a two-run home run in the seventh inning.  The senior catcher finished with 10 total bases and scored six runs.

Once again, the Wolverines pounded the ball as eight players banged out 16 hits, eight for extra bases. Joining Ioanilli with three hits in the game were Garroway (two doubles) and Nardone.

The defense was very good as well as they recorded 19 of the 21 outs by fly ball or groundouts.  Julia Nardone got the complete game win to run her record to 3-0. She gave up 10 runs, 8 earned in the circle as she yielded 10 hits. The gutsy right hander walked 5 and struck out 2.