By PAUL GOTHAM
IRONDEQUOIT, N.Y. — With a full schedule this week, Scott Smith figured lineup adjustments were needed.
The Irondequoit softball coach made all the right moves.
Marlayna Cartagena hurled a three-hitter and sparked a late-inning rally as the Eagles stayed unbeaten with a 2-0 victory over Bishop Kearney in non-league action, Tuesday.
One day after taking the circle in a win over Greece Arcadia, Cartagena struck out 15 batters in Tuesday’s victory.
“I asked her if she could go back-to-back because we have five games this week,” Smith said of the move to use his ace on consecutive days. “She pitched great.”
Marlayna Cartagena finishes it off with strike out number 15. Irondequoit 2 Bishop Kearney 0 pic.twitter.com/iTZRc1N44V
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 11, 2021
The sophomore left two runners on base in the first sending a pair of hitters back to the dugout on strikes. Those were the first of 13 straight batters she retired.
“It was good for me to get stronger and get used to going back-to-back,” she said. “We have a lot of games this season.”
Cartagena also went 2-for-3 at the plate and sparked the game-winning rally with a one-out single up the middle. This coming one day after struggling with the bat.
“Everybody has an off day,” Smith said. “How you respond to it involves your character. For her to come up there and get a baserunner for us in the sixth inning, it got it going for us.”
Cartagena advanced to third when Abby Ras reached on an error. Pinch runner Ella Cooley stole second base, and Emma Rovet sent a fastball through the left side of the infield to score both runners.
“I was worried because he gave me the fake bunt,” Rovet said of the sign Smith gave her for the first pitch of the at-bat. “I needed to swing at the next pitch because that’s what they’ve been throwing the whole time.”
Irondequoit strikes first. Emma Rovet plates 2 with a single through the left side. One out bottom 6. pic.twitter.com/1YPhwSNAUy
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 11, 2021
In the top half of the inning, Rovet was on the receiving end of a defensive play that kept the shutout intact. With two outs and Kearney’s Carmella Phelan on second, Allie Borregard singled off the glove of Irondequoit shortstop Kailey Besio.
Left fielder Emily Northrup reacted to the play and grabbed it just on the outfield grass and came up throwing to Rovet at home for the third out of the inning.
“She made a perfect throw,” said Rovet, the Irondequoit catcher. “That’s such a tricky throw, too. There were so many people around her. I didn’t know who was going to get the ball at first.”
Well-hit ball from Allie Borregard. Emily Northrup comes up throwing to get the runner at the plate. pic.twitter.com/VOdDgXoFfC
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 11, 2021
Northrup was only in left field because Smith wanted to add offense to the lineup.
“It wasn’t evident today, but she’s a first baseman playing left,” Smith explained. “She comes up and throws a strike to home and Emma was in position to put a tag on her. It kinda swung the momentum, and we were able to put some runners on after that and cash them in.
“I told the kids ‘we’re going to put the nine players on the field that are going to be able to hit the ball a little bit.’ We caught a break there. She bailed me out.”
The win came after the Eagles (8-0) beat their previous six opponents by an average margin of 12-plus runs.
“We needed it,” Smith said of the close game. “Everybody’s good playing with a lead. We didn’t make the necessary adjustments until midway through the game. Fortunately, we were able to put some hits together in the sixth inning.
“It took a few innings for our kids to adjust. We didn’t have a lot of hits, but we put a few together at a crucial time to take the lead.”
Phelan struck out nine for Kearney.
Carmella Phelan gets the pop up to end the fifth. No score Bishop Kearney and Irondequoit. pic.twitter.com/dxRKzVdNeH
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 11, 2021
Irondequoit plays at Athena on Wednesday before ending the week with games against Pittsford Mendon and Pittsford Sutherland.
Kearney hosts Finney on Wednesday and Wilson/Edison later in the week.
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