Lechler's RBI Single Helps Bulldogs Advance
Stone Bridge came from behind 8-2 after three innings to win this 1st round regional tournament game over Yorktown. Yorktown scored a run in the top of the first, and Stone Bridge answered with two runs driven in on a triple by pitcher Ashley Gardner in the bottom of the inning. Yorktown then broke the game open with a 5 run second inning, and added 2 more in the top of the third.
Stone Bridge did not score again until the fifth inning. Down 8-2, with 1 out, Kayla Lechler singled with a line drive up the middle. Stephanie St. Peter followed with a single to left. Gardner grounded to the shortstop for the second out, but moved Lechler and St. Peter to 3rd and 2nd. Lauren Wolz scored Lechler on a choppy single up the middle, and the Lauren Jennings dropped a double neatly down the right field line, scoring both St. Peter and Wolz.
Yorktown answered with a run in the top of the sixth, making the score 9-5, with Stone Bridge having only two at-bats remaining in regular innings. Michele Mocabee walked to getting things started in the sixth, and Lauren Williams followed with a bunt single. Natalie Driskill did her job, bunting them both into scoring position. When Lechler's first pitch line drive landed in the second baseman's glove for the first out, it was up to St. Peter. She answered with a triple down the right field line, scoring Mocabee and Williams, and bringing Stone Bridge within two.
In the top of the seventh, Stone Bridge recorded three outs in four Yorktown batters, avoiding the dangerous top of the Yorktown order, and then had their half of the inning to win the game. Lauren Wolz led off with a sharp single up the middle, and Lauren Jennings followed with a walk. After a Yorktown pitching change, and with pinch runners (Caroline Kittinger and Katie Benusa) in for Wolz and Jennings, Cassie Phillips came to the plate. The runners advanced on two consecutive wild pitches, and Kittinger scored. Phillips then walked. Mocabee singled in Benusa for the tie, and got the winning run (Phillips) to third base. Mocabee stole second, removing the force, and then Williams reached on a grounder to short, when the Yorktown player elected not to throw to first and hold the runner at third instead. Driskill's fly to left might have scored the run on a tagup, but the runner held, bringing the heart of the Stone Bridge order up with only one out and the winning run on third. Lechler wasted no time, sending the first pitch to the fence in left center, driving in Phillips for the win.
Stone Bridge (18-6) advances to the Regional Quarterfinal against Herndon on Monday.
Bulldog stats:
Ashley Gardner, winning pitcher, 5 Ks. Offensively - Drove in Stone Bridge's first runs with a two-RBI triple.
Stephanie St. Peter, 3 for 4, two-RBI triple, 2 runs scored.
Kayla Lechler, 3 for 5, game-winning RBI, 1 run scored.
Lauren Wolz, 2 for 4, RBI
Lauren Williams, 2 for 4 with a walk, 2 runs scored
Lauren Jennings, 2-RBI double
Michele Mocabee, 1 for 3 - drove in tying run
