St Stephens chipped away at the Cardinals for five innings, scratching out a run in the first, second, and fifth innings while the Saints Alexi Sargent baffled the home team, recording 14 strikeouts. But on Senior Day at Luckett Field, Ireton found a way in the bottom of the sixth, plating all four of their runs in a thrilling 4-3 win.
Junior Caroline Boddie was hit by a pitch to open the frame, Julie Smolak singled. Sophomore pitcher Micki Crouch drilled a bases-clearing triple to pull Ireton to within 3-2. Mandy Imbriglia, another of the senior heroines of the morning, walked, stole second before Debbie Ward singled to right driving home Crouch and Imbriglia.
Crouch, who recorded ten strike outs of her own on the day, shut the Saints out in the top of the seventh to secure the Cardinals 8th win on the campaign, and boosting their profile as the final state polls are tabulated to determine state playoff seedings.
“Great win on senior day” commented a pleased Kathy Gutmann. “I am happy for Mandy, Julie, and Bev (Thomas) to go out this way over a very good cross town rival. We are definitely going in the right direction with the season winding down and playoffs ahead.” Ireton hosts Holy Cross Tuesday at Luckett Field, gametime is 4pm.
OVERALL
0-0
PCT
0
CONF.
0-0
PCT
0
STREAK
W0
HOME
0-0
AWAY
0-0
NEUTRAL
0-0
Cardiac Cardinals rally late to win, 4-3
Posted On: Saturday, May 01, 2010
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