Nardone Tosses Gem, Wolverines Defeat Beaver Falls To Clinch Playoff Berth

Will Nardone pitched a complete game 2-hitter to lead Ellwood City to a 5-2 playoff-clinching victory over Beaver Falls at Sanders Field on Tuesday.

Nardone surrendered only two singles, did not allow an earned run, and struck out two batters across his seven inning performance.

Ellwood City (5-6 Overall, 5-3 Section) have now clinched a playoff berth and will next travel to Neshannock on Wednesday to start a string of three consecutive road games.

Trailing 1-0 entering the home-half of the fifth inning, the Wolverines pounced for three runs to take the lead. After knotting the game at one, Joseph Roth singled on the first pitch of his at bat, scoring what amounted the game-winning run.

Roth, Ashton Wilson, and Bucky Biskup each collected singles to lead Wolverines offense that was stymied and limited to only three hits by Tigers pitching. Alexander Roth made the best of his plate appearances, cashing in on two run-producing sacrifice flys for Ellwood City.  The Wolverines batters amassed six walks and four stolen bases on the afternoon

Jacob Barnes took the loss for the Tigers (2-8 Overall). Barnes surrendered three runs on zero hits over four and two-thirds innings. Brady Wooley went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Beaver Falls in hits.

OF NOTE: Many players and fans wore purple in support of HOPE – a Club Hope Foundation initiative that saw purple lines drawn on the field and a colored base used during the game.