Softball splits doubleheader
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sheridan | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 4 |
|
Humber | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | X | 8 | 9 | 4 |
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Durham | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
|
Humber | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
By: William Shoukri
Humber Athletics Communications
ETOBICOKE - Humber softball (10-3, 2nd OCAA) split their two games at Connorvale Park on Saturday. The Hawks beat Sheridan 8-2 to open up the day before dropping their second match 4-1 to the undefeated Durham Lords. The second game was postponed indefinitely in the top of the sixth inning. Shea Hilpert collected a couple RBI's while Shade Hansen racked up seven strikeouts in just five innings.
Game One: Humber 8, Sheridan 2
It was a strong start for the Bruins on Saturday. Zoe Scougall started on the mound for the Hawks, looking to improve on her 3-1 record and Harley Normore was the matchup for the Bruins. Sheridan would score twice in the top of the first, sending the Hawks to the plate down 2-0. Humber would finish the inning scoreless, leaving Reese Velocci on first.
Back out for the second, Sheridan would quickly get a runner aboard with no outs. Scougall would flex her power and control though, striking out back-to-back batters before making a fantastic tag at home end the inning.
Marley Greer would get things going for the Hawks with one out, dropping a single into left field. She would take second moments later after a fielders choice, leaving her in a scoring position with two outs. After a walk and a wild pitch Humber would end up with runners on second and third with two outs with Shea Hilpert at the plate. Hilpert would drop a base hit into centre field scoring Greer and Claudia Hansen to tie the game at 2. Hilpert would go on to take third on an error and the Hawks would take flight.
Hilpert would score on the following play thanks to an RBI single from Riley Devries, giving the Hawks their first lead of the day, 3-2. Sheridan would strike out the final batter of the inning, ending the second 3-2.
Humber would make the top of the third a quick affair. A fantastic catch at third by Amelia Russo would strand two Sheridan runners and send the Hawks back to the plate.
Deeper in the bottom of the third, Humber had two runners in scoring position and two outs with Melia Farrow at the plate. Farrow would smash a two-RBI triple into right field, giving the Hawks a 5-2 lead. Sheridan would end the inning with the next better but Humber would go into the fourth having extended their lead.
Scougall made quick of of the Bruins in the fourth, only allowing one hit before ending it with a ground ball. It was all Humber in the bottom of the fourth. The Hawks loaded the bases quickly. With the bases loaded and no outs on the board Humber was sitting pretty. River Johnston would score two, bolstering Humbers lead to 7-2. The Hawks would score once more in the inning before Sheridan would end it and go into the fifth up 8-2.
Scougall would pitch another scoreless inning in the top of the fifth, striking out her fourth batter of the afternoon in the process.
Olivia Weiss would come in to pitch for Sheridan at the bottom of the fifth. She would manage to keep the Hawks scoreless, sending Humber into the sixth inning still commanding an 8-2 lead.
Second year pitcher Michaela Brown would come in for the Hawks in the top of the sixth. Brown would go three up three down, retiring the side with less than 10 pitches and punctuating the inning with a three-pitch strikeout.
Sheridan would keep the Hawks scoreless in the bottom of the sixth sending them into the final inning still leading 8-2.
Angelina Bomberry would come in to close out the game for the Hawks. She would do just that, closing out the game with a strikeout and two fly outs, securing the 8-2 win for Humber.
Game Two: Durham 4, Humber 1 (5-innings)
Facing the only team ranked higher than them in the OCAA, Humber knew this game would be the toughest they've had so far this season. With ace Shade Hansen leading the way the dish, the Hawks hoped to hand Durham its first loss of the season. Hansen would oblige, handing the Lords a scoreless inning while picking up her first two strikeouts of the day.
Makayla Benz would start the game at the dish for Durham, the second-best statistical pitcher the Lords have at their disposal. Rilee Devries would get the hawks started with a lead-off triple, bringing the opening run within 90 feet after the first pitch. Devries would score off a sacrifice fly from River Johnston and the Hawks would go into the second inning with a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the second Durham would show why they're the best in the OCAA. They loaded the bases with two outs before Grace Hearns would clear them with a 3-RBI double deep to centerfield. Hansen would stay calm though, striking out the next batter to end the inning and limit the damage. Hansen had four strikeouts through two innings and Humber would trail 3-1 coming into the bottom of the second. Durham would have a productive inning defensively. The Hawks battled at the plate but would be held scoreless so the score would remain 3-1 heading into the top of the third.
Hansen would stay steady in the new inning, striking out another couple of batters and holding the Lords scoreless to send the Hawks back to the plate. Durham pitcher Makayla Benz would stay hot though, retiring the Hawks in order to start the fourth inning still leading 3-1.
It was a pitching dual now at Connorvale as Shade Hansen would step back on the mound and hand Durham another scoreless inning, ending it with while allowing just one hit to send the Hawks back on the offensive. Benz would continue the narrative in the bottom of the fourth, holding the Hawks scoreless while just allowing one hit.
Durham would lead off the fifth inning with a double, putting pressure on Hansen and the Hawks. Durham would hit another double, scoring the runner on second and increasing their lead to 4-1. The Hawks would do a great job limiting the damage, holding Durham to just one run, but they would go into the bottom of the fifth, now trailing 4-1. Durham stayed focused though and it was another solid inning defensively from Benz and the Lords as they retired the side in order.
Unfortunately, Humber's shot at a comeback would end there. Due to worsening weather conditions, the game would be postponed indefinitely before Humber would get its shot at a sixth—and seventh-inning comeback.
Humber Highlights
- Shade Hansen broke the Hawks strikeout record (174) in her last game against Mohawk. With her seven today, she now has 181 career strikeouts.
- Humber is now 7-4 all-time vs Sheridan and 26-28 against Durham.
What's Next?
Women's softball (10-3, 2nd OCAA) is back in action on Sunday, September 22, when they travel to Hamilton to take on Mohawk (2-10, 8th OCAA) and Seneca (0-12, 9th OCAA). The games are scheduled for 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM respectively.
