Irondequoit uses six-run fourth to win fifth straight

By PAUL GOTHAM 

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Irondequoit sent 11 batters to the plate in a decisive fourth inning as the host Eagles defeated Le Roy, 10-5 in non-league action, Wednesday.

Marlayna Cartagena and Abby Ras connected on back-to-back run-scoring doubles as part of a stretch that saw seven straight Irondequoit batters reach base – five of those connecting on two-baggers.

“We have some kids starting to hit the ball,” Irondequoit head coach Scott Smith said.  “We started finding some holes today. It was nice to put up some runs.”

Cayden Catalina started the outburst with a one-out double. Maddie Colbey walked before Kailey Besio brought home the first run of the inning with a double.

Cartagena and Ras followed with knocks. Emma Rovet and Norah DeMayo added to the hit parade.

When the inning ended, Irondequoit led 10-4.

“We’re starting to get our rhythm,” Smith noted. “We weren’t hitting the ball great at the beginning of the season. They responded well.”

Marlayna Cartegena goes with the pitch to bring home two runs with a double. Abby Ras follows with a run-spring two bagger of her lane ⁦@WIEagles⁩ 8-4 pic.twitter.com/TRiPIAnKsi

— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) April 20, 2022

The win was the fifth straight for the Eagles which opened the season with five straight losses.

“To be where we were and where we are right now, I’m really proud of the kids,” Smith said. “We started off the first five games, we played good competition. We just weren’t making plays. We were averaging 5.1 errors per game, and you’re not going to beat anybody let alone good teams kicking the ball around. We weren’t playing smart mentally either.”

First-pitch hacking: Abby Ras plates a pair with a double down the left field line. ⁦@LeRoy_Knights⁩ 4 ⁦@WIEagles⁩ 4 pic.twitter.com/p8ukdJrGrP

— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) April 20, 2022

Besio struck out eight in five-plus innings of work to register the win. After allowing three runs in the second, the sophomore right-hander retired six of the next seven she faced before giving way to Cartagena in the sixth.

“She did a really nice job,” Smith said of his starter.

Cartagena retired all six batters she faced including three on strikes.

“That was a great way to close the door,” Smith said of his junior hurler. “It kept them off-balance. It’s nice to have that in my back pocket.”

Madison Spink highlighted a three-run Le Roy (1-2) third with a home run. The junior plated Riley Wood with a two-out shot over the fence in left center. Jen Pullyblank followed with a double and scored on Sierra Burk’s base hit.

“They’re not afraid to swing the bats,” Smith said of Le Roy. “When we got down 4-2, it was a little bit of an eye-opener.”

Ella Cooley makes good contact, but Quinn Doty is up to the task. Heading to the 4th: ⁦@LeRoy_Knights⁩ 4 ⁦@WIEagles⁩ 4 pic.twitter.com/X8DoHfaRxV

— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) April 20, 2022

Cartagena finished 2-for-2 with two walks and three runs scored. Ras was 2-for-3 with a sacrifice and a run scored. Rovet went 2-for-4. Besio had two hits in four at-bats with three runs scored.

Le Roy’s Spink was 2-for-4. Burk went 2-for-3.