Jones' Double In 7th Gives Lady Falcons 1-0 Win
ASHBURN, VA - Freshman Macy Jones' two-out double in the bottom of the seventh scored sophomore Kristina Karagiorgis from first base to give Briar Woods a thrilling 1-0 walk-off win over Potomac Falls in another key Dulles District softball game Tuesday in Ashburn.
Karagiorgis drew a critical walk on a 3-2 count to set up the heroics by Jones, who drilled the second pitch see saw over the right fielder's head and to the fence. Karagiorgis raced around from first and scored standing up before being mobbed at the plate by her teammates.
The hit made a winner of junior Kate Fowler, who was once again masterful in the circle for the Falcons. Fowler allowed just one hit -- a soft single to Panther clean-up hitter Courtney Sunderland with two outs in the fourth -- and struck out nine while walking one.
Fowler retired the Panthers in order in six of seven innings, with her only rough spot coming with two outs in the fourth. Potomac Falls pitcher Heather Kiefer coaxed a walk and Sunderland followed with her single to left to give the visitors runners at first and second. However, Fowler worked out of the jam with a strikeout, and the Panthers never threatened again.
The Falcons wrapped up their regular season with a 14-4 overall record and a 10-4 mark in the Dulles District and are the front runners for the second seed in the upcoming district tournament pending the outcomes of several other make-up games scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday of this week.
Potomac Falls fell to 11-5 overall and 8-4 in district play and close out its regular season by hosting first-place Broad Run Wednesday before visiting Dominion Thursday. A Panther loss in either game would give Briar Woods a second-place finish and the No. 2 seed in the tournament. Should the Panthers win both games and finish tied with Briar Woods, a coin flip would determine the second and third spots.
Tuesday's game between Briar Woods and Potomac Falls was a near carbon copy of the last meeting between the two squads April 17 in Sterling. In that contest, the Panthers outlasted the Falcons 1-0 in 10 innings in another showdown between Fowler and Kiefer. Fowler allowed just three hits while striking out 12 in the tough-luck loss, while Kiefer scattered seven hits and struck out 13.
Fowler got off to a fast start Tuesday, setting the Panthers down in order in the first. The Falcon offense started just as quickly when junior Holly Dominguez slapped a lead-off single through the left side of the infield and moved to second on a sacrifice by Karagiorgis. However, Kiefer got Jones on a called third strike and retired junior clean-up hitter Caitlin Blalock on a ground out to first.
The Falcons loaded the bases with one out in the second but again came up empty. Sophomore Kasey Ball singled to start the inning, and, after a strikeout by Fowler, sophomore Jillian Olson was hut by a pitch and junior Claire Bayles drew a walk. Kiefer again rose to the challenge, getting sophomore Alex Fierszt to hit into a fielder's choice with the out made at home and then striking out Dominguez to end the inning.
Kiefer set the Falcons down in order in the third, but Briar Woods threatened again in the fourth. Fowler lined a one-out single down the right field line and junior Claire Bayles drew a two-out walk, but Fierszt grounded out to short on a close play at first to end the frame.
The Falcons had another rally fall short in the bottom of the sixth. Ball roped a one-out double and was replaced by freshman pinch-runner Hope Vivian. Fowler then sent a shot to the left side of the infield that was tipped by the Panther shortstop, allowing Vivian to advance only to third. Kiefer then used a pop-up to the catcher and a strikeout to thwart another Falcon scoring chance.
In the seventh, Fierszt was thrown out at first trying to reach on a bunt, and Dominguez flied out to center for the second out. Karagiorgis worked her way to a full count before drawing her key walk, and Jones followed with her game-winning shot to give the Falcons their third walk-off win of the season.
Kiefer suffered the tough loss for the Panthers after allowing one run on six hits. She struck out six and walked three.
