HAWKS DROP TWO TO UPSTART FANSHAWE FALCONS
Posted: Oct 07, 2015

HAWKS DROP TWO TO UPSTART FANSHAWE FALCONS

By: Natalie Stoberman

 ETOBICOKE, ON: The Hawks dropped the series of a pivotal match-up between the Fanshawe Falcons, but not because they were outmatched. Humber battled in both of their 6-2 and extra inning 7-6 losses and put up 18 hits in the fight despite other factors that affected the outcome of the games.
 
Game One wasn't as pretty as Humber trailed 4-0 going into the top of the fourth. But the Blue and Gold slowly chipped away with a lead-off walk from shortstop Bonnie Gillingham followed by a single from first baseman Hilary Redrup. The resourceful Hawks capitalized on a bunt from left fielder Natalie Stoberman that safely got her to first on an error and scored Gillingham. Hot hitter Terah Camilleri then notched her first RBI of a very productive night to score Redrup. Starting pitched Myranda Pierson kept Fanshawe close until the seventh when they scored two more runs to pull away for the 6-2 win.
 

Fanshawe was the home team for Game Two to make up for a rainout in London this past weekend, which didn't worry the Hawks. Pitcher Bree Donaldson had the start and had earlier offensive help with a big three hit inning to score third baseman Julia Catalano to cut Fanshawe's lead down to 2-1. Humber then took the lead in the third with back-to-back doubles from Stoberman and Camilleri to lead off the inning and eventually saw both hitters cross the plate. With a tied ball game at 3-3, Camilleri did more damage in the fifth with a monster solo shot for Humber to take the lead. Though short lived with a two run sixth from the Falcons to put the Hawks down a run, rookie left fielder Taylor Kauffman stepped up to keep Humber in the game. After a hustle play by Stoberman to get to second on a missed pop-up to start the inning, Kauffman battled with two strikes to loop a liner into centre field for the game tying RBI. Reliever Amanda Van De Graaf ruthlessly sent the Falcons down in order with a strikeout and two fly outs to send the game to International Tie Breaker.

 Humber struck first with a perfectly executed bunt by second baseman Abbey Hill to move centre fielder Elisa Gregoris to third. The Hawks got a one run cushion on a sac fly from Gillingham but that's all they could muster up in the eighth. With the Falcons back at the drawing board and with home field advantage, they manufactured two runs with a pair of singles and questionable calls at home and on the base path that set up the 7-6 walk-off win.

After Thanksgiving the Hawks will be on the road to take on the Seneca Sting at 6 and 8 p.m.