BRADFORD – Clearfield rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh inning but left the tying run on third base as Bradford hung on for a 6-5 win in scholastic softball action Tuesday.
Jessie Mascho carried a two-hitter and a 6-3 lead into the final frame of the District 9 Northern Allegany League Big School Division game, but the Lady Bisons quickly closed the gap on one-out singles by Janell Zalno and Melinda Owens and a two-run double down the left field line by Megan Butler.
On the throw to the plate, Butler advanced to third, but pinch-runner Carrie Harbold had to hold on Julie Colesar\’s hard one-hopper that Bradford shortstop Brit Harsen backhanded for a key out.
Suzie Colesar followed with another well-hit grounder that Harsen handled for the game-ending out.
\”We hit the ball hard, but their shortstop made two good plays,\” Lady Bison coach Bob Dixon said. \”We\’ve been hitting the ball right at people all year long.\”
Clearfield, which fell to 3-12 with its fourth loss in a row, took a 3-2 lead in the third inning.
An error, a walk and Butler\’s bunt single loaded the bases. After Mascho hit Julie Colesar to force in a run, freshman right fielder Mia Keener singled for her first two runs batted in of the season.
Other than Butler\’s hit, the Lady Bisons were unsuccessful in several attempts at small ball.
\”We had a tough time getting bunts down, or we would have scored more runs,\” Dixon said. \”We must have tried eight to 10 times. It just was not a good night.\”
Mascho notched five strikeouts in Bradford\’s first D9NAL victory that atoned for a 7-4 loss at Clearfield on April 29.
The Lady Owls, who were beaten 7-1 by Elk County Catholic earlier in the afternoon, are 1-7 in the league and 2-14 overall.
Losing pitcher Tristan Lewis held the hosts to three singles until the sixth inning.
\”Tristan threw a good game until the sixth,\” Dixon said. \”I think she got tired and got the ball up.\”
Tate Slaven\’s double and Mascho\’s single tied the score, 3-3. Two errors gave Bradford three more runs that proved all-important when Clearfield threatened to pull it out in the seventh.
The Lady Bisons take a 2-4 D9NAL log into Wednesday\’s home make-up game with Brookville.
CLEARFIELD — 5
Janell Zalno cf 4210, Melinda Owens ss 3210, Megan Butler 3b 4122, Carrie Harbold pr 0000, Julie Colesar 1b 2001, Suzie Colesar lf 3000, Mia Keener rf 3112, Courtney Morgan 2b 2000, Mackenzie Moore c 3000, Tristan Lewis p 2000, Andrea Butler p 1000. TOTALS: 27 5 5 5.
BRADFORD — 6
Kristen Dittman cf 4010, Michelle Keane ss 3110, Tate Slaven c 3121, Jessie Mascho p 3111, Brit Harsen 3b 3110, Ryleigh Langianese dp 3200, Megan Hillard 2b 3001, Ashlie Harrington 1b 3011, Meghan Hollenbeck lf 3000, Taylor Lunn rf (flex) 0000, Amber Abers rf (flex) 0000. TOTALS: 28 6 7 4.
Score by Innings
Clearfield 003 000 2 – 5 5 4
Bradford 110 004 x – 6 7 1
Errors – Owens, M. Butler 2, Moore; Harsen. PB – Moore 2. LOB – Clearfield 6; Bradford 4. 2B – M. Butler; Slaven. SB – Keane.
Pitching
Clearfield – Lewis 5 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K; A. Butler 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K.
Bradford – Mascho 7 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 5 K.
HB – Mascho 2 (J. Colesar 2).
W – Mascho. L – Lewis (0-2).