Lady Falcons Split Games In Weekend Action
BRIAR WOODS DOWNS LOUDOUN COUNTY FOR SCHOOL RECORD 13th WIN
LEESBURG, VA - One day after being held to just two hits in a tough 1-0 loss to Park View, the Briar Woods softball team exploded for 11 hits to post a 7-1 win over host Loudoun County Saturday morning in Leesburg.
With the victory, Briar Woods improved to 13-4 overall -- setting a single-season program record for wins -- and 9-4 in the Dulles District. The Falcons are in strong contention for either a second- or third-place finish in the regular-season standings; the Falcons close out district play Tuesday when they host Potomac Falls, and the winner of that game could lock up the No. 2 seed depending on the outcomes of several other games scheduled to be played Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Briar Woods got off to a quick start against Loudoun County (9-8 overall, 6-7 Dulles District) when junior Holly Dominguez led off the game by reaching on a two-base infield throwing error, moved to third on a sacrifice by sophomore Kristina Karagiorgis and scored on a double by freshman Macy Jones.
Junior pitcher Kate Fowler helped her own cause when she drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the third to give the Falcons a 2-0 lead. She then then came through with clutch pitching in the bottom of the fourth, striking out three consecutive Raider hitters after a lead-off triple by senior Lindsey Holtz.
Loudoun County pulled to within 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth when senior Rochelle Latka laced a two-out, run-scoring single just inside the first base line. The Raiders loaded the bases on an infield error and a fielder's choice later in the inning, but Falcon sophomore centerfielder Alex Fierszt came through with the defensive play of the game, racing in and sliding on her knees to catch a sinking liner off the bat of Raider clean-up hitter Renay Aubel to end the threat.
The Falcons then blew the game open with five runs in the top of the sixth. Jones got the rally started with an RBI single, and junior Caitlin Blalock followed with a run-scoring ground out. Sophomore Kasey Ball ripped a two-run double down the left field line to make it a 6-1 game, and Fowler doubled home Ball to cap the outburst.
Fowler pitched five strong innings to improve to 9-4 on the season. She allowed one run on four hits and struck out six. Jones came on in relief and held the Raiders hitless over the final two frames, striking out three.
LADY FALCONS DROP CLOSE ONE TO PATRIOTS
STERLING, VA - Despite another outstanding pitching effort by junior Kate Fowler, the Briar Woods softball team dropped a 1-0 contest to Park View in Dulles District action Friday night in Sterling.
The Falcons fell to 12-4 overall and 8-4 in district play, while the Patriots improved to 10-8 overall and 7-5 in the district. Park View is now just one game behind Briar Woods in the standings with two games left in the regular season.
Fowler allowed just two hits and one unearned run while striking out seven and walking one in a complete-game performance.
Park View scored the lone run of the game in the third when Sam Gleason reached on a one-out infield error, moved to second on a ground out and scored when Robin Heironimus smacked a double to left center.
Another infield error gave the Patriots runners at first and third, but Falcon freshman first baseman Macy Jones made a nice back-handed snag of a soft liner in foul territory to end the inning.
After retiring the Patriots in order in the fourth, Fowler found herself in another jam in the fifth. Park View placed runners at second and third with one out, but Fowler struck out Heironimus on a check swing and got the Patriot clean-up hitter on a ground out to end the inning.
Heironimus was equally impressive for the Patriots and had a perfect game going with one out in the top of the seventh when Briar Woods sophomore Kristina Karagiorgis rolled a sharp single up the middle. After a fly out, junior Caitlin Blalock dumped a single into right to give the Falcons runners at first and second. However, Briar Woods came up empty when sophomore Kasey Ball's shot to third was snagged out of the air to end the game.
Heironimus finished with a two-hitter, striking out six.
