BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports Report
WYSOX — Tae-Lynn Brabant did it on both sides for Towanda in their 4-2 win over Wyalusing during NTL softball action Thursday.
She struck out six with one walk, six hits, and two runs to get the win in the circle, and she knocked in two runs on an error in right field off her bat during the rally to take the lead in the third inning.
“We’ve been eager to play, so we’ve been really waiting to get out here on the field,” said Towanda coach Caitlyn Crawford. “I knew we were going to have some first game jitters today, but the girls settled in, and pulled through in the end.”
The Rams took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third, with Towanda scoring three in the bottom half. It stayed a 1-run game until the fifth, when Towanda tacked on a safety run for the 4-2 final.
Crawford liked the way her team responded after Wyalusing took the lead.
“I told them before we even started playing ‘I know we’re going to have first game jitters’,” remarked Crawford. “‘Shake it off, bounce back, have each other’s back,’ and I feel like they truly did do that. They went out and played together as a team.”
After that third inning Brabant retired 12 of 14 batters the rest of the way.
“Tae-Lynn did a great job on the mound for us tonight,” Crawford said. “She took a couple hard line drives, but bounce right back from it, and threw a great full game for us.”
Brooklyn Evans (2-for-3) had a double with an RBI for Towanda, while Brynsen Vargason (1-for-2) also had an RBI.
Kynlee Kunkle (1-for-2), Aleah Johnson (1-for-3), and Payton Perry (1-for-2) all scored.
Addison Fluck was solid in the loss, striking out eight with six hits, and three walks.
Addy Bly (2-for-3) had a double with a run scored, as Kyla Carpenter (2-for-3) also scored. Treanna Nickeson (1-for-2) knocked in two runs, with Rachel Wilson (1-for-3) also getting a hit.
In the top of the third Carpenter led off with a hit, followed by Bly’s double to put runners on second and third. Nickeson then brought them home with a single to right-center field for the 2-0 lead.
In the bottom half of the inning Kunkle would draw a lead-off walk, followed by Perry getting a hit. Brabant then drove one to right field that was misplayed by the outfielder, allowing Kunkle, and Perry to score.
Evans then doubled in Brabant for the 3-2 Towanda lead.
In the fifth Johnson would single, then was plated by Vargason two batters later for the 4-2 final.
Towanda (1-0) travels to Athens on Saturday for an 11 a.m. start, while Wyalusing (0-2) will host Troy at home on Tuesday.
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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING
