Lady Bulldogs Send Seniors Out With 7-6 Win
(Ashburn, VA) - Stone Bridge celebrated its seniors' last home game by handing Langley High School its first Liberty district loss Tuesday night in Ashburn. The Bulldogs were fired up coming in to the game, having lost a close game to the Saxons in their earlier season meeting. Langley was held scoreless in the first inning, with pitcher Ashley Gardner recording both a double play and a strike out. In the bottom of the first, Stone Bridge's offense got righ to work. Shortstop Natalie Driskill singled, and catcher Kayla Lechler drove a double to the right center gap. Driskill, trying for home on Lechler's hit, got caught in a pickle, but Langley's catcher dropped the ball in the tag and Driskill scored, leaving Lechler on 3rd base. Third baseman Stephanie St. Peter walked, and Lechler scored on a wild pitch which also advance St. Peter to second. Gardner advanced St. Peter to 3rd on a grounder to second, and St. Peter scored when rightfielder Lauren Wolz reached on an error.
Langley struck back in the top of the second, recording a run on a single and an RBI double, but Stone Bridge added two runs in the bottom of the inning, as first baseman Lauren Jennings reached on an error and center fielder Lauren Williams walked. Both were moved to scoring position on by Driskill, and with two outs, Lechler singled to right field, driving in both runs.
Leading 5-1 going into the third, Stone Bridge seemed to be in control of the game, but two hits and three errors in the third allowed Langley to turn the tables and take a 6-5 lead. The Bulldogs went back to work in the bottom of the third, with Gardner leading off with a walk, followed by Wolz singling. Gardner reached third when second baseman Michelle Mocabee hit into a fielders choice, and scored to tie the game on a single to left by Jennings.
Only one Langley batter reached base in the top of the fourth, but did not score, and in the bottom of the inning, Lechler doubled again, and St. Peter drove her in for the go-ahead run, with a sharp single up the middle. Gardner shut the Saxons down in their final three at bats, allowing only one baserunner on a walk in the fifth, and was perfect in the final two innings to earn the 7-6 win.
All three Stone Bridge seniors contributed to this win in their last regular season home game: Williams had a walk and scored a run, Jennings scored a run and drove in the tying run, and St. Peter scored a run and drove in the game winner. Junior Lechler finished 3 for 4 with 2 doubles, 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Sophomore Ashley Gardner got the win on the mound, allowing only 5 hits from a strong Langley offense.
Stone Bridge is now 14-5 overall, 11-2 in district play. The Bulldogs will play their final regular season game Thursday night at South Lakes High School.
