By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Pinch-hitter Lily Pyles snapped a five-all tie, and host Aquinas (4-7) avenged an earlier loss with a 12-7 victory over Kendall in non-league action, Wednesday afternoon.
Pyles drove in Abigail O’Meara with a two-out single – the first of five straight Li’l Irish to reach base.
“That turned the lineup around,” said first-year Aquinas head coach, Jeff Page. “Then we had the top of our lineup come to the plate, and we were able to tack on some more. Here’s a girl who came off the bench and hammered it through the right side to keep the inning going. If she doesn’t get that hit, who knows what could have happened.”
Kendall Buttles followed with a walk, and Delaney Buttles added to the lead with a single to center.
“We’re starting to hit the ball a lot more, and we’re running the bases aggressively,” Page said.
Lexi Smith-Beauregard capped the inning with a two-run single to center field.
Kendall Buttles struck out nine without issuing a walk in a complete-game effort. After surrendering two runs in the second and three more in the third, the right-hander settled in and retired seven straight including the fourth frame when she fanned the side in order.
Lily Pyles connects on a two-out single to give @AQ__Athletics a 6-5 lead in th fifth. pic.twitter.com/Ssc42jk8S4
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 1, 2024
Lexani Smith-Beauregard brings in two more with a base hit. @AQ__Athletics has scored four with two outs, leads 9-5 in the fifth. pic.twitter.com/Qr7ohITnYo
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 1, 2024
Kendall Buttles fields the comebacker and leaves a pair of runners on base. Heading to the bottom of the sixth: @AQ__Athletics 9 @KCSDAthletics 5 pic.twitter.com/zolisplhw3
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 1, 2024
“She was keeping them off-balance,” Page said of the seventh-grader. “She throws multiple pitches. She’s not walking batters and getting in ruts. She’s forcing the other team to put the ball in play, and the defense was making plays behind her. She pitched a really good game.”
The win was the second straight for Aquinas and third in the past four games.
Kendall (4-6) took a 9-3 decision when the two teams met earlier in the season.
“We hit the ball today,” Page said. “When we went out to their place, we didn’t hit the ball.”
Smith-Beauregard finished 4-for-4 at the plate with a double, a walk and four RBI. Kendall Buttles was 2-for-3 with two walks, four RBI and three runs scored. O’Meara was 1-for-2 with two walks and three runs scored. Makaylah Titus singled, walked drove in a run and scored twice. Natalie Strzepek singled, walked and scored.
Brooke Rodas brings in Stella Kwiatek with a single to right. Rodas comes home on a Maggie Zastrow base hit. Heading to the bottom of the third: @KCSDAthletics 5 Aquinas 5 pic.twitter.com/doz5uFSNxk
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 1, 2024
Heads up play in right. Gracie Robb grabs the fly ball and doubles off the runner at first. @KCSDAthletics pic.twitter.com/04SqkYnO2N
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) May 1, 2024
Kendall’s Brooke Rodas was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored. Alea Barrett and Maggie Zastrow both had two hits, an RBI and a run scored. Isabella D’Agostino and Sophia Picardo both singled and scored. Teagan Shaw drove in a run with a base hit.
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