Northern Tier Sports ReportROME — Troy used a 7-run third inning to pull away from NEB, 12-1 in six innings, for the NTL softball win Thursday.
After the 6-run third Troy added two more in the fourth. NEB got one across in the bottom half of the inning, but a 4-run sixth by the Trojans secured the win.
“It’s always tough at Northeast Bradford,” said Troy coach Wayne Pratt. “They’re well coached, they’ve got a well disciplined team, and then with the weather and everything we’re playing like one game a week, which is tough to really get any momentum going, but the girls showed up; and once they got their bats going, they finished it.”
Troy pounded out 11 hits as Marlee Stanton (2-for-4) had a home run, with 4-RBI and two runs scored, with Kali Ayres (3-for-3) driving in two runs while scoring two herself.
Lauren Ridall (2-for-3) scored three times and drove in two runs, as Madi Palmer (2-for-4) had two runs scored, with an RBI.
Olivia Champluvier (1-for-2) had a double with 2-RBI, while Erinn Knapp (1-for-3) had 2-RBI with a double. Sydnee Bellows also crossed home plate, and Haidyn Watson scored.
Knapp struck out four in the win while allowing three hits, one run, and no walks.
“Erinn zoned in,” said Pratt. “She can hit those pitches, she’s proven it all year that in the big games she’s ready.”
For NEB Makenna Callear (1-for-3) scored as Kelsea Moore (1-for-2) got the RBI. Hannah Berger (1-for-2) also had a hit.
Callear and Moore combined to strikeout two with 11 hits, 12 runs, and three walks.
In the third Watson reached on a walk then moved over on a sacrifice. Ridall then singled her in for the 1-0 lead.
Ridall then scored on an Ayres hit, followed by Palmer reaching on a single. Both later scored on a Stanton hit for a 5-0 lead.
After a Champluvier walk she would later score on a passed ball. Knapp then drove Stanton in for the 7-run third.
In the fourth Bellows reached on an error, then scored on a Ridall double. Ridall then took home on the Ayres sacrifice fly to make it 9-0.
In the bottom half of the inning Callear singled, then scored on a Moore hit to get the Panthers on the scoreboard.
In the sixth Ridall reached on a 1-out error, followed by Ayres singling. Palmer then singled in Ridall, followed by Stanton hitting a shot over the left field fence to bring them all home.
NEB (8-6) travels to NP-Liberty on Monday while Troy (9-5) hosts Canton on Saturday.
With just one week left in the season Troy will be busy next week, assuming the weather allows them, but Pratt doesn’t mind after mostly practices the past two weeks.
“We’re looking forward to playing game after game after game,” Pratt said. “I think it’s going to work to our benefit because we’ll be a well oiled machine once we hit district play.”
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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING
