2-run 4th inning proves enough for Punxsy softball at St. Marys

ST. MARYS — Those who have followed softball at any level over the past several years might have come to expect a pitchers' duel when teams between Punxsy and St. Marys meet, and Saturday's varsity softball contest between the two proved to be just that. Punxsy's offense did just enough, and starter Kendal Johnston and the defense behind her limited the Lady Dutch to one run to secure a 2-1 victory.

Johnston pitched a complete game, allowing one run on five hits and a walk and striking out four. Her counterpart, St. Marys’ Kendall Young, had quite an outing as well, allowing just the two runs, only one of which was earned, on four hits and striking out 14.

“It was a really good game. Johnston had another stellar effort just like her recent effort against DuBois,” Punxsy coach Alan Pifer said. “She was battling through a bit of an injury, so it was a gutsy effort. She kept us in the game until we could get a few hits against a tough pitcher. We had another good, solid defensive effort behind her too.”

The Lady Chucks offense struggled to get much going against Young early on, as she set them down in order in each of the first three innings, striking out the first six and seven of the first nine.

The second time through the order started with a bang, though, as leadoff hitter Riley Presloid drove a double to left to spark what would prove to be a rally.

Young answered by recording two quick outs and leaving Presloid at second, but Elliott Ferrent came through in the clutch for the Lady Chucks by driving a double to left that nearly cleared the fence.

That plated Presloid to put Punxsy ahead, and the Lady Chucks picked up an insurance run at no cost to them when Ciara Toven popped one up to the shortstop, leading to an E-6 and allowing Ferrent to score and make it 2-0.

St. Marys orchestrated a bit of two-out magic in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead in half. It started with a Janelle Krug single, and after a walk to Lauren Mosier put a pair on the pond, Shannon Kiser singled to left to bring Krug around and make it 2-1.

Punxsy got out of the jam before another hitter came up, though, by retiring Mosier at third, and that proved to be all the scoring for the Lady Dutch.

Punxsy had just two hits after its two-run fourth inning, with each runner being stranded at second base.

The first came on a two-out double by Brooke Skarbek in the fifth inning, and the second came with two outs in the top of the seventh when Madi Shiock singled and her courtesy runner, Emily Dobbins, stole second.

The Lady Chucks (3-4) are back in action on Tuesday, when they'll host a rare doubleheader against Hollidaysburg. The two teams usually play home and home, but this will replace the trip there this season.