McQuistion Shines, Wolverines Knock Off Rival Riverside

Amber McQuistion shined at the plate and on the mound Thursday, leading Ellwood City to a 5-2 victory over Riverside.

McQuistion collected three hits, including a solo homerun, and three RBIs to power the offense and struck out nine Panthers in her complete game pitching performance.

The Wolverines took the lead early by way of the second inning solo homer by McQuistion and never relinquished the lead. In the third, Keira Rozanski joined the bag trotting club, smacking a solo homer of her own to put Ellwood City ahead 2-0.

The duo of McQuistion and Rozanski helped Ellwood City stretch their lead to 5-0 in the fourth inning as each collected run scoring doubles for the Wolverines.

Riverside responded in the bottom of the frame as Addison Drake knocked in a run and second scored on a passed ball.

McQuistion wrapped up her completed game performance allowing only six hits and no walks in her seven innings in the pitching circle.

Ayla Sterner took the loss for Riverside, surrendering five runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings. Cummings tossed 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for the Panthers.

Ellwood City (12-2 Overall) next travels to Quaker Valley on Friday while Riverside (5-6 Overall) will next host Neshannock on Monday.

Boxscore from today’s softball game against Riverside. pic.twitter.com/AgO5xHf3aD

— Ellwood City Wolverines Sports (@EC_Wolverines) April 26, 2024

HOPEWELL EARNS WALK-OFF VICTORY OVER WOLVERINES

Ellwood City was on the wrong end of a 8-7 defeat at the hands of Hopewell on Thursday.

THe thrilling back-and-forth game was decided on a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh.

Both teams exchanged runs and leads in the first three innings with Aaron Lake’s two-run double in the second inning and Isaiah Lutz’s two-run single in the third inning giving the Wolverines leads. After Hopwell took a one run lead, Ellwood City responded to tie the game in the top of the seventh, but Charles Smetana singled in the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh to secure the walk-off victory for Hopewell.

Lake and John Biskup each doubled to power the Ellwood City offense. Lake and Lutz each knocked in two runs. Nate Kennedy took the loss for Ellwood City, lasting 4 1/3 innings on the mound and allowing only one earned run and four hits. Aaron Lake pitched two innings of relief.

Ellwood City (5-7 Overall) will next play at home on Saturday against Union Area.