Lady Wolverines Nip Mohawk 4-3, Improves to 4-1 Overall

Wednesday evening’s game between Ellwood City and Mohawk at Stiefel Park had a playoff feel even though it was just the second section game for both squads.

Both pre-season favorites to compete for the section crown entered the game with 0-1 section records and the winner would jump right back into the section race while the loser would be in a deeper hole. The game was a back and forth nail biter dominated by pitching and defense that featured some late game heroics by the Lady Wolverines to came away with a 4-3 victory.

Ellwood City got the game’s initial run in the home half of the first inning without generating a hit. With two outs, Amber McQuistion reached on an error. Courtesy runner Delaney Sturgeon advanced to second and came all the way around to score as Sara Schwarz’ dropped third strike was thrown into right field.

Mohawk took the lead in the fifth with one out as Pistorius singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a two out double by Aricka Young. Hare drove in Young with a single up the middle for a 2-1 lead.

The Lady Wolverines took the lead for good in the sixth inning. Julia Nardone and Aliya Garroway led off the inning with back to back walks and with one out, slick fielding center fielder Ellie Kalantzis singled up the middle to plate both Nardone and Garroway. A walk to Keira Rozanski would put runners on first and second for freshman Natalee Gillin and she knocked in the eventual game winning run with a single up the middle.

Mohawk was not about to go down easily as they showed some grit in their final at bat. With one out, Young legged out her fourth hit of the game on a grounder to third base. A single by Hare put runners on first and second. Moskal reached on an error to load the bases. This is where the Lady Wolverines stood tall in the face of adversity as Kalantzis made a fine running catch to limit Cole to an rbi sacrifice fly. Freshman pitcher Mcquisiton, with maturity beyond her years, ended the game with a strikeout as the Ellwood City faithful went home happy.

Kiley Leviere, Kalantzis, and Gillin provided singles to the winning cause. Mcquisiton got the win in the circle. She pounded the strike zone all night as she scattered eight hits over her complete game performance without walking a batter. She finished with two punch outs, including the game ender.

Ellwood City will start their Easter break and return to action on Tuesday as the Blackhawk Cougars visit Stiefel Park for a non section matchup.

RELATED: Ellwood City baseball fell to 1-6 (0-4 section 1-3A) after dropping a second game to Quaker Valley in its home-and-home series this week.  After falling at home 11-1 on Tuesday the Wolverines battled back from an early deficit on Wednesday, but came up on the short end of a 7-6 outcome.  Jordan Wilson and C Wilson collected three hits a piece for Ellwood City on Wednesday as the Wolverines offense produced twelve hits on the afternoon. Quaker Valleyl jumped out to a an early 6-1 advantage after a four run second inning and held on as the visiting Wolverines scored a run in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings to inch closer.